2237 + 0305 - A new and unusual gravitational lens

Abstract

The authors have discovered a new gravitational lens system which consists of a quasar at z = 1.695 nearly centered on a 15 mag spiral galaxy, 2237+0305, at z = 0.0394. At 2arcsec resolution, only a single optical image of the quasar is visible; its centroid is located within approximately 0arcsec.3 of the center of the galaxy. "Snapshot" observations at the VLA yielded no detectable radio radiation, placing an upper limit of about 0.5 mJy on the combined flux density of the galaxy and quasar at λ = 6 cm. The authors discuss a simple gravitational lens model that accounts for these observations.