Microlensing

Microlensing is an astronomical phenomenon that occurs when a massive object, like a star or planet, passes in front of a more distant star. The gravity of the foreground object acts like a lens, bending and focusing the light from the background star. This causes the background star's brightness to temporarily increase. By observing these brightness changes, scientists can detect and study objects—such as exoplanets or dark matter—that would otherwise be difficult to see. Microlensing is a powerful tool for understanding the distribution of mass in the universe.