Many astronomical objects (planetary nebulae, emission nebulae, and supernova remnants) often display ringlike structures. The light emitted from MG 1131+0456, however, is not characteristic of those types of objects. Astronomers are not certain why this radio source displays a ring.
This object may be an example of ΓÇ£gravitational lensing.ΓÇ¥ We all know that gravity affects matter, but it can also influence energy. A massive object between us and MG 1131+0456 may have warped the galaxyΓÇÖs light, smearing it into a ringlike shape called an Einstein Ring.
