Gravitational Lensing and the Largest Einstein Cross Ever seen. One of the most fascinating features of the Carousel Lens is the discovery of the largest known Einstein Cross—a phenomenon where ...

Unlike a ring, though, an Einstein Cross showcases the mirroring as if we’re looking at multiple objects all around each other. But, in reality, it’s just one object mirrored four different times.

The largest Einstein Cross dwells among a rare arrangement of seven gravitationally lensed galaxies called the Carousel Lens located between 7 billion and 12 billion light-years from Earth.

- Giant Einstein Cross: "Of particular interest is the discovery of an Einstein Cross – the largest known to date – shown in galaxy number 4’s multiple appearances (indicated by 4a, 4b, 4c ...

This is the largest Einstein cross ever seen and it tells us that the distribution of mass in the lens is quite symmetrical. “This is literally a one-in-a-billion object in the sky.

The Einstein Cross is an example of gravitational lensing. (Image credit: NASA and European Space Agency (ESA)) General relativity and changes in Mercury's orbit.

The largest Einstein Cross dwells among a rare arrangement of seven gravitationally lensed galaxies called the Carousel Lens located between 7 billion and 12 billion light-years from Earth.

The largest Einstein Cross dwells among a rare arrangement of seven gravitationally lensed galaxies called the Carousel Lens located between 7 billion and 12 billion light-years from Earth.