RX J1131-1231 is a quasar whose light is gravitationally lensed by an intervening elliptical galaxy. The quasar itself is approximately 6 billion light-years away from Earth. The elliptical galaxy in question, which causes the gravitational lensing effect, is positioned at a distance of about 3.8 billion light-years from Earth. This means that the galaxy is indeed somewhat between us and the quasar, although its position is not precisely at the halfway mark. Gravitational lensing occurs when a massive object, like this galaxy, bends the light of more distant objects, allowing us to observe phenomena that might otherwise be too faint or obscured.