Shonda Lee Suster

The bright ring of light surrounding the galaxy is called an Einstein ring. It is created when light from a distant galaxy bends and forms a ring that looks aligned with another galaxy or massive object. It is the first time the ring of light is detected by Euclid, a space telescope on a mission to create a map of the universe.

Jacqueline McCleary, a professor of physics at Northeastern University, says scientists were able to find the ring because of the telescope's high-resolution instruments. With other previous generations of telescope, this Einstein ring was essentially drowned out. by the light of this big galaxy. Astronomers hope the telescope will discover more Einstein rings in the future.

That's Shondalee Stester reporting. It's NPR.