[hparadiz]

We can do 7-8 AU per year right now using tech we have. Voy 1 and Voy 2 are moving at 3.59 and 3.25. A starship sized rocket could also possibly get a small payload that separates to 15 AU. This is all using conventual propellent. If you consider using nuclear explosive as a prepulsion technique the math starts to change substantially and you can achieve even 25 AU / year.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20140013260/downloads/20...

[DarmokJalad1701]

Sure. But then how do you go from 7-8 AU/yr (33-38 km/s) to whatever the orbital speed is at that distance and also point that velocity vector in the correct direction for the orbit?

[cyberax]

Technically, you don't need to stop. Gravitational lensing does not work like regular lenses, there is no "focal distance".

You have to be so far because that's the minimal distance where the Einstein ring becomes larger than the Sun's apparent diameter.