Hubble Discovers Quadruple Lensed Ancient Supernova

astroengine writes Astronomer Patrick Kelly, with the University of California Berkeley, and colleagues report this week about four different routes light from an ancient supernova took to reach the Hubble telescope after being deflected around an intervening elliptical galaxy. The phenomenon is known as an Einstein cross. "Basically, we get to see the supernova four times and measure the time delays between its arrival in the different images, hopefully learning something about the supernova and the kind of star it exploded from, as well as about the gravitational lenses," Kelly said in a statement. The supernova will appear again in the next 10 years, as its light takes different paths around and through the gravitational lens.

Comments

Re:why 10 years?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because of the curve in spacetime created by a large gravitational body (which causes the gravitational lens in the first place) we will see the light again as one path is longer than another. It's a bit more complex than that but that's the Astrophysics 101 version of it.

Re:why 10 years?

[sconeu]

Supernovae are transient events. So it will fade. 10 years from now, the light will reach us again, after it's travelled a different route. RTFS, it's right there:

"The supernova will appear again in the next 10 years, as its light takes different paths around and through the gravitational lens."

In other words, some of light got lensed into taking the scenic route, and will show up later.