NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured a rare cosmic phenomenon known as the ‘Einstein Ring.’ A stunning image of the phenomena was recently released by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The image, published on Thursday (March 27), has been named JWST’s ‘Picture of the Month.’

This image comes from the Strong Lensing and Cluster Evolution (SLICE) survey (program 5594), which aims to observe the evolution of 182 galaxy clusters over 8 billion years. The research is led by Guillaume Mahler from the University of Liège in Belgium, with contributions from astronomers worldwide.

To create the final image, data from NASA and ESA’s Hubble Space Telescope—specifically from its Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys—were also used. At first glance, the image appears to show a single galaxy, but NASA explains that it actually depicts two galaxies at different distances. This is a striking example of gravitational lensing.

What is an Einstein Ring?

An Einstein Ring forms when light from a distant galaxy bends around a massive cosmic object in the foreground. According to Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, gravity distorts space-time. This warping is usually not visible to the naked eye, but when the light from a distant galaxy aligns perfectly with the foreground object and Earth, gravity bends the light into a circular shape—creating what we call an Einstein Ring.

These rings act like natural telescopes, allowing astronomers to observe faint or distant galaxies that would otherwise be impossible to see. Scientists believe that studying such phenomena could provide valuable insights into the structure and evolution of the universe, helping to unlock mysteries about its ancient past.