Quasars are active black holes -- primarily from the early universe. Using a special method where you observe light that has been bent by gravity on its way through the universe, a group of physics students from the Niels Bohr Institute have observed a quasar whose light has been deflected and reflected in six separate images. This is the first time a quasar has been observed with so many light reflections. The results are published in the scientific journal, Astrophysical Journal.
Due to the special gravitational lens effect where light is bent as it passes heavy objects, such as galaxy clusters, a group of physics students at the Niels Bohr Institute observed a quasar whose light was reproduced six times. This has never been seen before.
(Photo Credit: Håkon Dahle, Nordic Optical Telescope)
This image shows the Nordic Optical Telescope, NOT, on La Palma in Spain. Here the air is so clear and calm that astronomers with the 2.5 m telescope can observe distant objects in the universe.
(Photo Credit: (Iair Arcavi))