Einstein cross

English

Etymology

From 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

Einstein cross (plural Einstein crosses)

1. (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

• Einstein Cross (the first discovered gravitationally-lensed quasar in this configuration)

Related terms

• Einstein ring

Anagrams

• intercessions, recensionists