EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 am MONDAY 30 MARCH 1998
PHOTO NO.: STScI-PRC98-14b

Diagram demonstrating the principle of a gravitational lens

Diagram showing the formation of a gravitational lens images. In the upper diagram the distant object, the lens galaxy and the Earth are perfectly aligned. The lens galaxy formed a perfect ring-like image known as an Einstein Ring. In the lower diagram the distant object, the lens galaxy and the Earth are not perfectly aligned. In this case the lens galaxy forms multiple images of the distant object.