Einstein Cross Discovery: Unveiling Universe's Farthest Boundaries

 The enigma of the universe unfolds in the form of an Einstein Cross, a celestial spectacle where space-time curvature around a massive object fractionates the light behind it into four distinct sections, akin to a cross. These alignments, albeit rare, are crucial for unraveling the mysteries of the universe's most remote boundaries. Similarly, space-time isn't a perfect plane; influenced by gravity, it buckles and contorts, profoundly impacting the path of light traversing through it.

The Einstein cross DESI-253.2534+26.884, as observed using MUSE in May 2023. (Cikota et al., arXiv, 2023)

Decoding the Einstein Cross and Its Appearance

Visualize a sheet of fabric. Position a ball in the center, and you'll notice the fabric curving under its weight. Anything that rolls over the fabric now follows the contoured path shaped by the ball. This scenario mirrors the behavior of space-time: a sufficiently large mass distorts and curves the surrounding space-time (think sun, black holes, and the likes). Consequently, light traveling through this altered space-time is deflected along a curved trajectory, emerging on the other side transformed. This foreground mass creates a warping and magnifying effect, a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing.

Gravitational lensing was first identified in 2021. The Very Large Telescope's MUSE instrument was employed for the latest observations, confirming the spectacle as Einstein's cross. The captured image reveals a gigantic red galaxy in the foreground, surrounded by four luminous spots – mirror images of a farther lensed galaxy. Collectively, this system is referred to as DESI-253.2534+26.8843.

Reference: Science Alert