Observation by David Strange: The Twin Quasar - QSO 0957+561

Uploaded by

David Strange

Observer

David Strange

Observed

2026 Feb 16 - 01:16

Uploaded

2026 Feb 16 - 12:27

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Constellation

Ursa Major

Field centre

RA: 10h01m
Dec: +55°46'
Position angle: -9°21'

Field size

0°28' × 0°22'

Equipment
  • RC10
  • ASI1600MM
Exposure

12 x 60s

Location

Salcombe Regis

Target name

QSO 0957+561

Title

The Twin Quasar - QSO 0957+561

About this image

The first confirmed example of a gravitational lens which was discovered in 1979. What appears to be two very similar bright points of light are actually two images of the same distant quasar. The light from the quasar (z= 1.413) is bent by a foreground galaxy YGKOW G1  (z=0.355). The quasars light is bent around two different paths which results in images separated by 6 arc seconds. 

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