The Einstein Cross

The Einstein Cross and the galaxy that causes this 'cosmic mirage', as seen with the FORS instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope. This cross-shaped configuration consists of four images of a single very distant source. The multiple images are a result of gravitational lensing by a foreground galaxy, an effect that was predicted by Albert Einstein as a consequence of his theory of general relativity. The light source in the Einstein Cross is a quasar approximately ten billion light-years away, whereas the foreground lensing galaxy is ten times closer. The light from the quasar is bent in its path and magnified by the gravitational field of the lensing galaxy.

Crédit:

ESO/F. Courbin et al

À propos de l'image

Identification:eso0847a
Type:Observation
Date de publication:12 décembre 2008
Communiqués de presse en rapport:eso0847
Taille:1024 x 1024 px

À propos de l'objet

Nom:Einstein Cross, Gravitational Microlensing
Type:Unspecified : Galaxy : Activity : AGN : Quasar
Unspecified : Galaxy : Type : Gravitationally Lensed
Constellation:Pegasus
Catégorie:Quasars and Black Holes

Formats des images

Grand JPEG
246,2 Kio
JPEG taille écran
189,1 Kio

Fonds d'écran

1024x768
215,6 Kio
1280x1024
311,4 Kio
1600x1200
417,4 Kio
1920x1200
509,0 Kio
2048x1536
642,6 Kio

Coordinates

Position (RA):22 40 30.30
Position (Dec):3° 21' 30.38"
Field of view:1.70 x 1.70 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.0° left of vertical

Couleurs & filtres

DomaineTélescope
VisibleVery Large Telescope
FORS1