gravitational lens
noun
: a massive celestial object (such as a galaxy) that bends and focuses the light of another more distant object (such as a quasar) by gravity and that is usually detected by the multiple images it forms of the second object
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Such mirror images arise when an object’s light takes multiple paths around a gravitational lens. 
Fionna M. D. Samuels, Scientific American, 21 July 2022 These CubeSats could then make a 25-year journey to the solar gravitational lens (SGL) point. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 26 July 2022 But the galaxy cluster captured in the image, known as SMACS 0723, serves as a gravitational lens, bringing to light more distant galaxies. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 12 July 2022 With microlensing, a foreground object can act as a gravitational lens to bend and amplify the light from a distant background star. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 11 June 2022 Despite the far-out nature of the solar gravitational lens, Turyshev, Macintosh and Madurowicz are of one mind: thinking about its possibilities now is worthwhile. Allison Gasparini, Scientific American, 25 May 2022 The mass of that closer galaxy acts as a gravitational lens, bending SPT0418–47’s rays toward Earth so that ALMA can get a better image. Daniel Clery, Science | AAAS, 12 Aug. 2020 Their number came from using only two gravitational lenses, which were all that were available. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 19 Sep. 2019 Jee and her colleagues focused on two objects named B1608+656 and RXJ1131-1231, gravitational lenses that are bending the light from faraway quasars. Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 12 Sep. 2019 See More
Fionna M. D. Samuels, Scientific American, 21 July 2022 These CubeSats could then make a 25-year journey to the solar gravitational lens (SGL) point. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 26 July 2022 But the galaxy cluster captured in the image, known as SMACS 0723, serves as a gravitational lens, bringing to light more distant galaxies. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 12 July 2022 With microlensing, a foreground object can act as a gravitational lens to bend and amplify the light from a distant background star. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 11 June 2022 Despite the far-out nature of the solar gravitational lens, Turyshev, Macintosh and Madurowicz are of one mind: thinking about its possibilities now is worthwhile. Allison Gasparini, Scientific American, 25 May 2022 The mass of that closer galaxy acts as a gravitational lens, bending SPT0418–47’s rays toward Earth so that ALMA can get a better image. Daniel Clery, Science | AAAS, 12 Aug. 2020 Their number came from using only two gravitational lenses, which were all that were available. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 19 Sep. 2019 Jee and her colleagues focused on two objects named B1608+656 and RXJ1131-1231, gravitational lenses that are bending the light from faraway quasars. Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 12 Sep. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
1937, in the meaning defined above