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WictImov t1_j65rdv4 wrote

Reply to comment by cousgoose in If you could instantaneously place a space telescope at any desired distance (LYs), from any planet/galaxy etc., where would it be and what would you be documenting? And for what purpose? by kennyarsen

I don't think using a black hole as a gravitational lens would achieve your objective. A simple lens like a magnifying glass does not work like a set of lenses with well-placed relative distances like a telescope (or microscope). Try using a magnifying glass to see something in the distance. It doesn't work, it will only focus on something closer to it than it is to your eye.

This is all moot however because you would see those things with more clarity if you placed the space telescope close to them, to begin with.

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cousgoose t1_j66ep3o wrote

Hmm I swear I read a thing or two about the concept! The idea being if you were at a certain distance away, the BH could capture and 'focus' light emitted behind it, such that the image would be in finer detail? Unless I misunderstood. And I briefly tried searching the web for answers, but could only find articles about basic concepts of lensing. I'll keep looking!

My thinking was, if this were indeed possible, you could maybe rotate around the BH to get many clearer images of many different objects

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