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In a particularly stunning example of the Einstein Cross, astronomers have discovered a supernova that can be observed again and again. Gravitational lensing effects result in the light from the stellar explosion taking 4 different routes, each route taking a different amount of time to reach Earth. The star SN Refsdal is/was 9.3 billion light years from Earth, while the lensing galaxy cluster MACS J1149.6+2223 sits a little closer at 5 billion light years distant.
While this isn't the first example of the Einstein Cross effect proposed in 1969, it is the first example of a supernova being viewed through one.
The full paper is available on Sciencemag.org for a fee, but Physics World has an adequate summary of the discovery.
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Einstein Cross Shows Us the Same Supernova Explosion Four Times
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 08 2015, @12:39PM
there's probably more gavitational lensing then not. considering that most light sources ARE massive globes of fuseing hydrogen.
furthermore we lack the sensitivity to detect so most lensing goes unnoticed.
i would wager that a regular flashlight pointed straight up into the night sky will lense back (see above) abit like the badly hit golf ball on the moon that will hit the back of your head : )