Phil Marshall's Galaxy in a Wineglass

[juliusdaviesd]

I'm no physicist. But the glass phenomenon happens through refraction because the medium is glass. Now galaxies are obviously not solid objects. Does this mean, that the refraction effect is in fact being replicated, but this time, just by sheer gravity as opposed to refraction through a medium? [The end result of the two being the same]

[EvieGurl6]

well refraction occurs through liquid and depending on the density gas as well. But yes, you are right, in this case the refraction mimics the effects of gravitational lensing.