A distorted archive of ancient relics (fulldome)

An enormous cluster of galaxies known as Abell 2218 appears in this fulldome clip. The cluster is so massive and compact that the gravitational field it produces bends, distorts and magnifies light from objects that lie behind it. This produces a useful kind of cosmic lens that allows astronomers to peer at very distant objects which would otherwise be too faint to see. The strange arcs of light which seem to be smeared across the lens in this video are actually examples of such remote galaxies, their appearance having been distorted almost beyond recognition by the powerful effects of the foreground cluster.

For more information see the original image.