The white or blueish spots are six images of the same quasar created by the lensing effect of two galaxies, one appearing as the light patch in the centre and one as a red arc
F. Dux et al.
A fortuitous alignment of two massive galaxies has presented astronomers with a unique opportunity to enhance their understanding of the expanding universe and gain insights into the enigmatic properties of dark energy.
Albert Einstein, in his pioneering work on general relativity, theorized that the gravitational pull of exceptionally massive celestial bodies could bend the path of light emanating from distant galaxies and stars, akin to the way a glass lens…
Article amended on 15 November 2024
Changes were made to clarify that the red arc in the image corresponds to the second lensing galaxy.
