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Two methods of measuring the mass of a galaxy

This infographic compares the two methods used to measure the mass of the galaxy ESO 325-G004. The first method used the Very Large Telescope to measure the velocities of stars in ESO 325-G004. The second method used the Hubble Space Telescope to observe an Einstein ring caused by light from a background galaxy being bent and distorted by ESO 325-G004. By comparing these two methods of measuring the strength of the gravity of ESO 325-G004, it was determined that Einstein’s general theory of relativity works on extragalactic scales — something that had not been previously tested.

Credit:

ESO, ESA/Hubble, NASA

About the Image

Id:eso1819c
Type:Artwork
Release date:21 June 2018, 20:00
Related releases:eso1819
Size:6251 x 4429 px

About the Object

Type:Early Universe : Cosmology
Category:Cosmology
Illustrations

Image Formats

Large JPEG
5.8 MB
Screensize JPEG
324.8 KB