Astronomers Discover 'Carousel Lens,' A Rare Gravitational Alignment

This unique configuration of galaxies provides unprecedented insight into dark matter and dark energy.

The Carousel Lens is a rare gravitational lens system formed by a foreground galaxy cluster and seven background galaxies.
Located 5 billion light-years from Earth, the lens magnifies galaxies up to 12 billion light-years away.
The alignment includes the largest known Einstein Cross, indicating a symmetrical distribution of dark matter.
Researchers used data from the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to identify the lens.
The discovery offers a new testbed for studying cosmological phenomena like dark matter and dark energy.