Space Telescope Spots Rare ‘Einstein Ring’ of Light Around Galaxy in Our Cosmic Neighborhood

A ring of light surrounding the center of the galaxy NGC 6505, captured by European Space Agency's Euclid telescope, an example of an Einstein ring. European Space Agency via AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—Europe’s Euclid space telescope has detected a rare halo of bright light around a nearby galaxy, astronomers reported Monday.

The halo, known as an Einstein ring, encircles a galaxy 590 million light-years away, considered close by cosmic standards. A light-year is 5.8 trillion miles.