Quasar acting as a cosmic lens

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Light from a distant source, bent around a massive object. The white arrows show

Light from a distant source, bent around a massive object. The white arrows show the path of the light from the true position of the lightsource. The orange arrows show the apparent position of the lightsource. (NASA)

Astrophysicists have for the first time observed a quasar that is located between the earth and a more distant galaxy and acts as a gravitational lens. This phenomenon illustrates Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, and will make entirely new kinds of observations possible.

A quasar acting as a gravitational lens has now been observed for the first time. This discovery, made by the EPFL’s Laboratory of Astrophysics represents an advance in the field, since it will allow scientists to weigh and measure a galaxy that contains a quasar.

Gravitational lenses everywhere


Interesting astrophysical tool


Possibility to “weigh” a galaxy


C. Wirth, Editor

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