Einstein's Cross Quasar QSO2237+0305; PGC69457

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Full field view with ST10XE (9.4 x 14 arc minutes). August 11, 13, 2005.  PGC 69457/Quasar QSO2237+0305 at lower right.

Quasar QSO2237+0305, the so-called "Einstein's Cross".  The Quasar is perhaps 8 to 13 Billion light years away.  In addition, there is a faint galaxy (PGC 69457) about 500 Million light years away that happens to be straight in line with the Quasar.  Einstein's General Relativity theory predicted that light would be lensed by gravity, and this has been confirmed by a large number of observations, including by observations of this Quasar.  In images taken by telescopes under good seeing conditions, the Quasar's light, bent by the intervening galaxy, appears as a multiple image of 4 lobes (a cross). To the left are three close up images of the core showing the beginning of some structure.    In the rightmost and bottom images taken on a night of better seeing, there is some evidence of the components of the Quasar.

Five 8 minute luminance subexposures, average FWHM approx. 2.1 arcsec.  July 30, 2005

Above: approximately twenty 5 minute luminance subexposures, average FWHM 1.5 to 1.7 arcsec.  August 8, 2005.

Left: best five of the above 5 minute luminance subexposures, average FWHM approx. 1.5 arcsec.  August 8, 2005

Einstein's Cross Quasar QSO2237+0305 Galaxy PGC69457 Date:  July 30, August 8, 11 & 13, 2005 Camera: SBIG STL6303E (7/30/05) SBIG ST10XE (8/8,11&13/05) Filters:  AstroDon Luminance Camera control software:  CCDSoft Focal reducer:  None Telescope:  RCOS 16 Carbon Tube, Aries optics, F9 Telescope control software:  RCOS TCC, TheSky6 Mount:  Paramount ME (MKS 4000) Guiding/adaptive optics:  internal self-guided, no AO7 on STL6303E/A07 on ST10XE Camera temperature:  -10C Conditions: Variable seeing and poor transparency, intermittent clouds. Processing: MaximDL, CCDSharp,  Registar,  Photoshop CS2.