deflection of light

Deflection of light refers to the bending of light rays as they pass near a massive object, such as a star or a galaxy. This phenomenon occurs due to gravity, which warps the fabric of space-time around massive bodies, influencing the path of light. It was famously confirmed during a solar eclipse in 1919 when starlight passing near the Sun was observed to bend, supporting Einstein's theory of General Relativity. This effect helps astronomers study distant galaxies and understand the universe’s structure, demonstrating how mass can influence light, even though light itself has no mass.