AutoLens analysis steps up for Euclid's 100,000 strong gravitational lens challenge
The European Space Agency's Euclid satellite, due for launch in 2020, will set astronomers a huge challenge: to analyse one hundred thousand strong gravitational lenses. The gravitational deflection of light from distant astronomical sources by massive galaxies (strong lenses) along the light path can create multiple images of the source that are not just visually stunning, but are also valuable tools for probing our Universe. Now, in preparation for Euclid's challenge, researchers from the University of Nottingham have developed 'AutoLens', the first fully-automated analysis software for strong gravitational lenses. James Nightingale will present the first results from AutoLens at the National Astronomy Meeting 2016 in Nottingham on Friday, 1st July.