The Einstein Cross

Close-up of the Einstein Cross, as observed with the SINFONI instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope. SINFONI makes use of the adaptive optics technique and so, allows astronomers to overcome the blurring effect of the atmosphere, thereby providing very sharp images. The central blob is the nucleus of the lensing galaxy, surrounded by the four mirage images of the distant quasar.

Credit:

ESO/F. Courbin et al.

About the Image

Id:eso0847b
Type:Observation
Release date:12 December 2008
Related releases:eso0847
Size:187 x 188 px

About the Object

Name:Einstein Cross
Type:Early Universe : Cosmology : Phenomenon : Lensing
Early Universe : Galaxy : Activity : AGN : Quasar
Category:Cosmology
Quasars and Black Holes

Image Formats

Large JPEG
11.7 KB
Screensize JPEG
58.9 KB

Wallpapers

1024x768
55.5 KB
1280x1024
80.3 KB
1600x1200
105.9 KB
1920x1200
117.3 KB
2048x1536
156.3 KB

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
Very Large Telescope
SINFONI