Largest megamaser is 5 billion light years from Earth and was discovered in SARAO

With the use of MeerKAT radio telescope devices, it was possible to detect an intense laser emission with an incredible distance of about 5 billion light years from Earth. The feat took place at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), through the work of an international team of astronomers led by Dr. Marcin Glowacki of Curtin University. This was the most distant "megamaser" ever discovered within that category. Check out more details about the discovery.

Read more: Triple galactic merger: space telescope captures images of what is believed to be the phenomenon

What is a megamaser?

Megamasers are generated when two galaxies collide with each other. This phenomenon occurs because it is a process that involves certain components of the Milky Way, such as gas, in specific physical states that will cause the amplification of light.

In addition, detected, in its overwhelming majority, in infrared galaxies, these emissions have a wavelength of one 18 cm in size and are called “megamasers OH”, and can be identified by devices such as the MeerKAT radio telescope, by example.

Laser called Nkalakatha

The phenomenon discovered was named Nkalakatha, which is a Zulu expression meaning "great chief". This discovery came during the first night of a survey involving more than 3,000 hours of observations from the MeetKAT radio telescope.

A scientist at the observatory, Dr. Glowacki, explained that when two galaxies come into contact with each other, the gas in them can become very dense and cause the emission of beams of light. This is the first hydroxyl megamaser they have ever observed, and also the most distant ever seen by any telescope.

The scientist was still very impressed by the discovery having occurred in just one night of observation, as this shows how this telescope delivers a good service. Another aspect that the study of this type of megamaser can add is in helping astronomers to better understand the evolution of the universe.

Other observations using the telescope

Now, the observatory's team of scientists is using the telescope to observe regions narrow edges of the sky at high depths and plans to collect measurements of atomic hydrogen in galaxies distant.

The scientist even said that they plan to carry out follow-up observations on the megamaser, in hopes of discovering more. Additionally, papers with the findings have been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters and are available online.