Gravity is a fundamental force of nature that causes objects with mass or energy to be attracted to each other. In the context of Einstein’s theory of general relativity, gravity is described as a curvature of space and time.
According to this theory, massive objects like planets and stars create a “curvature” or “dimple” in the fabric of space and time around them. This curvature causes other objects to be “pulled” towards the massive object, as if they were rolling down a slope.
The strength of this curvature, and hence the strength of the gravitational force, depends on the mass and energy of the objects involved. This explains why planets are pulled toward the sun, and why moons are pulled towards their planets.
In summary, gravity is intimately related to space and time because it causes a curvature in the fabric of space-time, which affects how objects move and interact with each other.
Galaxies are bending space and time
Webb has taken some impressive new photos where it shows the gravitational lensing phenomenon in all its glory. The photos show how galaxies are able to bend space and time due to their enormous gravity.
Warped tour…of space? ✨
See those strange arcs and streaks in this new Webb image? They’re actually distant galaxies, magnified and warped due to an effect called gravitational lensing: https://t.co/LwUv3MlSxu pic.twitter.com/KJpT0K6rCJ
— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) March 28, 2023
The galaxy cluster known as SDSS J1226+2149 is the star of the show in the image above. The majestic cosmic structure is located at about 6.3 billion light-years away from us. That practically means that there’s no use hoping to spend any vacation on one of the cluster’s planets.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is an incredible feat of engineering and technology. One of its most impressive features is its unprecedented observational capabilities. As the largest and most complex space telescope ever launched, the JWST is designed to observe the universe in the infrared spectrum, which allows it to see through dust clouds and debris that obscure visible light.
