gravitational microlensing

Gravitational microlensing is an astrophysical phenomenon where a massive object, like a star or a black hole, passes in front of a more distant light source, such as another star or galaxy. The gravity of the foreground object bends and magnifies the light from the background source, creating a temporary increase in brightness. This effect can help astronomers detect objects that are otherwise too faint to see, such as dark matter or exoplanets, by observing these unique light patterns and changes over time. It’s a powerful tool for studying the universe’s structure and contents.