gravitational lens
noun
: a massive celestial object (such as a galaxy) that bends and focuses the light of another more distant object (such as a quasar) by gravity and that is usually detected by the multiple images it forms of the second object
Examples of gravitational lens in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As light from a background source passes the curvature of space caused by the massive foreground object, or gravitational lens, its usually straight path becomes curved.
—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 June 2026
This effort will focus on the galactic bulge, where star density is much higher, and will take advantage of the fact that a planet can act as a small gravitational lens, briefly brightening any background stars that pass between it and Earth.
—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
23 Apr. 2026
These CubeSats could then make a 25-year journey to the solar gravitational lens (SGL) point.
—
Joshua Hawkins,
BGR,
26 July 2022
Such mirror images arise when an object’s light takes multiple paths around a gravitational lens.
—
Fionna M. D. Samuels,
Scientific American,
21 July 2022
But the galaxy cluster captured in the image, known as SMACS 0723, serves as a gravitational lens, bringing to light more distant galaxies.
—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
12 July 2022
The image, the deepest infrared shot ever taken, shows a foreground galaxy cluster called SMACS 0723 that is acting as gravitational lens, revealing much more distant galaxies behind it.
—
Christopher Cokinos,
Discover Magazine,
12 July 2022
With microlensing, a foreground object can act as a gravitational lens to bend and amplify the light from a distant background star.
—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes,
11 June 2022
The mass of that closer galaxy acts as a gravitational lens, bending SPT0418–47’s rays toward Earth so that ALMA can get a better image.
—
Daniel Clery,
Science | AAAS,
12 Aug. 2020
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Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 June 2026
This effort will focus on the galactic bulge, where star density is much higher, and will take advantage of the fact that a planet can act as a small gravitational lens, briefly brightening any background stars that pass between it and Earth.
—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
23 Apr. 2026
These CubeSats could then make a 25-year journey to the solar gravitational lens (SGL) point.
—
Joshua Hawkins,
BGR,
26 July 2022
Such mirror images arise when an object’s light takes multiple paths around a gravitational lens.
—
Fionna M. D. Samuels,
Scientific American,
21 July 2022
But the galaxy cluster captured in the image, known as SMACS 0723, serves as a gravitational lens, bringing to light more distant galaxies.
—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
12 July 2022
The image, the deepest infrared shot ever taken, shows a foreground galaxy cluster called SMACS 0723 that is acting as gravitational lens, revealing much more distant galaxies behind it.
—
Christopher Cokinos,
Discover Magazine,
12 July 2022
With microlensing, a foreground object can act as a gravitational lens to bend and amplify the light from a distant background star.
—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes,
11 June 2022
The mass of that closer galaxy acts as a gravitational lens, bending SPT0418–47’s rays toward Earth so that ALMA can get a better image.
—
Daniel Clery,
Science | AAAS,
12 Aug. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Gravitational lens.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gravitational%20lens. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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