The Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has captured an extremely rare cosmic object cluster, consisting of a galaxy and four “cosmic ghosts” formed from the bending of space-time.
The peculiar cluster includes a gigantic elliptical galaxy appearing with a reddish-orange hue in ESO’s lens, along with four other objects symmetrically arranged around it, forming a massive cross shape.
According to Sci News, scientists have recently named it DESI-253.2534+26.8843 and identified it as a rare “Einstein Cross”, formed from two phenomena: “redshift” and “gravitational lensing” described by the scientist Albert Einstein.
“Einstein Cross” recently discovered – (Photo: ESO).
The red elliptical galaxy at the center of the cross appears that color due to the redshift phenomenon. According to a team of scientists led by astronomer Aleksandar Cikota from the Gemini Observatory, light began its journey towards Earth when the galaxy was only 20% of its current age.
This means the image we see belongs to over 11 billion years ago. However, due to the expanding universe, it is no longer 11 billion light-years away but has “run” even farther, causing the apparent light to shift towards the red spectrum and create a peculiar coloration.
Meanwhile, the gravitational lensing phenomenon has caused this galaxy to replicate into four ghostly images, representing the four spooky objects that form the arms of the cross.
Gravitational lensing in astronomy refers to massive objects that are closer to Earth, positioned between the space from Earth to the object being observed.
These massive “interlopers” have a tremendous gravitational field that distorts space and time, altering the light from the observed object: It can make it appear brighter, larger, or cause it to replicate chaotically into “ghosts” that deceive the viewer.
This is not just an interesting image. According to a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal, observing an ancient object with five distinct and fairly large, clear images is a unique opportunity to learn about the early universe.
In this preliminary announcement, the authors state that DESI-253.2534+26.8843 is a galaxy that is actively forming stars, meaning it is a world with much to explore.
