Jorrie said:
The Einstein Cross is a rare astronomical phenomenon in which a single object, usually a distant galaxy or quasar, is magnified and split into four images due to the gravitational lensing effect of a massive foreground galaxy.
The Einstein Ring is a similar phenomenon to the Einstein Cross, in which a single object is magnified and distorted into a ring shape due to gravitational lensing. This occurs when the lensing object is perfectly aligned with the observer and the source object.
The main difference between the Einstein Cross and Ring is the shape of the magnified object. The Einstein Cross appears as four distinct images, while the Einstein Ring appears as a circular or elliptical ring. This difference is due to the alignment of the lensing object and the source object.
Both the Einstein Cross and Ring are rare phenomena, as they require a very specific alignment of the lensing object, source object, and observer. It is estimated that only about 1 in 10,000 galaxies have the potential to produce an Einstein Cross or Ring.
Scientists use various telescopes and instruments, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, to study and observe Einstein Crosses and Rings. They also use computer simulations to better understand the physics behind these phenomena and how they can be used to study the properties of distant objects in the universe.