There’s no optical error. The galaxies’ light is distorted because of dark matter, which bends the light with its gravitational pull. The discovery is quite surprising, as it reveals that previous computer models are wrong. According to these early observations, dark matter is “more densely packed inside [galaxy]clusters” than it was expected.
We will know more about this soon, as astronomers complete this new multi-wavelength survey, called the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble — aka CLASH. The new survey is checking 25 massive galaxy clusters “with unparalleled precision”. So far, they have completed six of them. When they are done, we will have a much better understanding of what’s going on with dark matter. [NASA]
EckyThump
Friday, October 14, 2011 at 9:21 AMI would put money on this stuff actually being in a parallel Universe/Dimension where gravity is a lot stronger than the weak assed stuff we have here and it’s bleeding through!
Jester
Friday, October 14, 2011 at 9:47 AM$10?
Tom M
Friday, October 14, 2011 at 10:11 AMHow about a slap bet?
TSH
Friday, October 14, 2011 at 10:34 AMGravitational lensing is nothing new. Predicted by General Relativity, confirmed in 1979. What we’re *not* sure about is exactly what causes the degree of gravitational lensing which we observe. No doubt this survey will provide valuable data.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_lens
One of my favourite theories (not really useful, but fun to think about) is that the entire observable universe is merely an anomalous “bubble” in the real Universe (with a capital “u”), outside of which we cannot peer. Essentially, that we are inside a universe-sized singularity.
Box Guru
Friday, October 14, 2011 at 11:47 AMThat kinda sounds like you’re saying we’re in a black hole.