It has been observed at a distance of about 5 billion light years from Earth, which is the most distant ever.
To reach Earth, light from this laser has traveled 36 trillion billion miles (58 trillion billion kilometers).
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The megamaser spotted a team of international astronomers using the South African Radio Astronomical Observatory’s MeerKAT or Karoo Array telescope.
What is a megamaser?
Marcin Glowacki, who was the team leader and researcher at the Curtin University junction of the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research in Australia, said megamasers are created when two galaxies collide.
In a statement, Glowacki said: “When galaxies collide, the gas they contain becomes extremely dense and can cause concentrated beams of light to be released.”
In short, a megamaser is actually a super-powerful laser, which is made of microwave light, the media reported.
Named Nkalakatha
MeerKAT noticed this lightweight or hydroxyl megamasser for the first time, Glowacki added.
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Hydroxl, which is a chemical group, contains one hydrogen atom and one oxygen atom. It can be found when galaxies are merging.
The laser has also been named Nkalakatha by the research team. It means “big boss” in isiZulu, a Zulu language in South Africa.
“It is striking that, with just one night of observations, we have already found a record-breaking megamaser. It shows how good the telescope is,” Glowacki added.
(With information from agencies)
