Galaxy Zoo Talk

Quasar gravitational lens?

  • tibbettsphotography by tibbettsphotography

    is this a gravitational lensing of a quasar? or just a chance alignment of stars in front of a galaxy?

    Posted

  • JeanTate by JeanTate

    The latter.

    The galaxy is far too small (mass-wise) to produce a lensed image with such a huge separation. Also, the two white (strange, multi-colored) blobs are not symmetrically placed, with respect to the central galaxy (as they nearly always must be, in a lensed system).

    Posted

  • vrooje by vrooje admin, scientist

    Agreed, the central galaxy is not large enough, and the other two objects look like stars. Thank you for classifying!

    Posted