Currently, sci.esa.int is under review and not being updated. For the latest information and news from ESA science missions and scientific results, please visit esa.int. For a comprehensive overview of ESA’s Science Programme and its missions, please refer to science.esa.int. For in-depth technical information aimed at ESA's scientific communities, you may also wish to consult cosmos.esa.int.

Asset Publisher

Back Gravitational Lens in Galaxy Cluster AC 114

Gravitational Lens in Galaxy Cluster AC 114


Date: 07 October 1992
Satellite: Hubble Space Telescope
Depicts: AC114
Copyright: NASA/ESA

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope photograph (left) shows a pair of L-shaped images with striking mirror- symmetry. These are thought to arise from a very distant galaxy seen through a cluster of foreground galaxies (right). The gravity of the galaxy cluster acts as a natural magnifying glass, bending and focusing the light of the more distant Source into several images, each of which is apparently larger and brighter than would otherwise be the case. This rare combination of Hubble's powerful telescope mirrors and the natural telephoto lens gives astronomers unprecedented information on the nature of very distant galaxies, and on the distribution and nature of matter in the foreground cluster. The two compact objects in the center of the HST image are thought to be unrelated galaxies in the foreground cluster.

The observations were made with Hubble's Wide Field Camera in one of the first long exposures (six hours) with the orbiting observatory.

Last Update: 1 September 2019
15-Jun-2026 02:26 UT

ShortUrl Portlet

Shortcut URL

https://sci.esa.int/s/89eP9O8

Latest Selection

Also Available As

Related Images

Related Videos

Caption & Press Release

Related Publications

Related Links

See Also

Documentation