Gravitational lensing is responsible for the appearance of this pair. They are 2 images of the same distant object. Their light is being bent and distorted by the gravity of matter closer to us. Thanks to Michel Michaud for proposing that we image it.
Details
2011-04-30 at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory near Victoria BC.
Telescope operator Dave Balam.
Conditions 7 deg C and clear with good seeing.
Equipment - 1.8m Plaskett telescope with CCD camera.
Filters and Exposures - R -3x60s, V -3x60s, B -3x60s.
Processing - Flats applied at Plaskett. Final processing with Images Plus and photoshop.