Gravitationally Lensed Quasar

https://www.nrao.edu/archives/plugins/Dropbox/files/0957 561_VR27A_med.jpg

Description

This remarkable image is the result of a gravitational lens, an intervening body massive enough to form multiple images of a distant quasar, by the gravitational deflection of light. Two images of the quasar are seen in this radio map - the A image is the bright point-like image north of center, and the B image is the bright point-like image south of center. The weak image just north of the B image coincides with the center of a large galaxy observed in the optical, which, along with the rich cluster of galaxies it lies in, is believed to be acting as the gravitational lens. The rest of the images seen in the map are due to extended radio emission associated with the quasar which have not been multiply imaged. The colors represent the intensity of the radio emission - red is bright, and blue is dim.
VLA in hybrid configuration using 18 antennas. Resolution is 0.8 x 0.4 arcsec.

Creator

Legacy Astronomical Images

Rights

NRAO/AUI/NSF does not hold full copyright for this image. Contact the archivist for details.

Type

Legacy Astronomical Image

Object Name

RGB J1001+558B

Investigators

P. E. Greenfield, D. H. Roberts, B. F. Burke

Telescope

Very Large Array (VLA)

Observation Date

1979-10-13

Type of Observation

continuum

Band

C

Wavelength

6 cm

Frequency

4.885 GHz

Center of Image

RA 10:1:20.860, Dec: 55:53:49.900 (J2000)

Field of View

0.005333 x 0.005333 degrees

Series

Miscellaneous Series

Unit

Cosmology Unit

Citation

Legacy Astronomical Images, “Gravitationally Lensed Quasar,” NRAO/AUI Archives, accessed March 28, 2024, https://www.nrao.edu/archives/items/show/33594.