Einstein cross
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Einstein (“Albert Einstein”) + cross. From the shape of a cross, of four points at roughly square angles around a central object, caused by distortions in the path of light's travel due to Einsteinian relativity (Albert Einstein's general relativity) creating four points out of a single light source behind the off-center central object. (An on-center central object results in an Einstein ring.)
Noun
[edit]Einstein cross (plural Einstein crosses)
- (astronomy, physics) A gravitational lens configuration resulting in four duplicated images of the back ground image around the central gravitationally lensing object, in a cross configuration.
Derived terms
[edit]- Einstein Cross (the first discovered gravitationally-lensed quasar in this configuration)