Dear Mike Dworetsky:

On Friday, September 21, 2012 9:19:31 AM UTC-7, Mike Dworetsky wrote:
....
It is gravitationally lensed by a giant elliptical
galaxy in a dense cluster between us and the
distant galaxy, which is why it looks a lot brighter
than it would if there were no lensing. In fact it
would be invisible to HST.

The cluster and giant galaxy are both much closer to
us than the very distant object.

Focus, as in bending light rays destined for a larger area, to a smaller one.

Got it. Thanks.

David A. Smith