How does gravitational lensing assist Hubble in observing faint, distant objects?

Answer

Massive foreground objects warp spacetime, bending and magnifying the light rays like a natural magnifying glass

Gravitational lensing is a phenomenon predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity, where massive objects, such as large galaxy clusters situated between Hubble and a distant source, significantly warp the surrounding fabric of spacetime. When light rays from the extremely distant background galaxy travel past this massive foreground object, the curved spacetime acts like an enormous, naturally occurring magnifying glass. This lensing effect can magnify the faint background object by factors of 10, 20, or more, allowing Hubble's advanced optics to resolve structural details and study the composition of galaxies that would otherwise remain completely invisible.

How does gravitational lensing assist Hubble in observing faint, distant objects?

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