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8 Billion Light-Years Away: Astronomers Discover Rare Megamaser

3/16/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Astronomers using the MeerKAT radio telescope detected a persistent hydroxyl megamaser from the merging galaxy system HATLAS J142935.3–002836, over 8 billion light-years away.
The signal has a wavelength of 18 centimeters, indicating amplification by hydroxyl molecules in dense gas clouds.
Gravitational lensing by a foreground galaxy enhances the signal.
The discovery shows extreme conditions in colliding galaxies.
The findings were published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters.

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Story summary

Astronomers using the MeerKAT radio telescope detected a persistent hydroxyl megamaser from the merging galaxy system HATLAS J142935.3–002836, over 8 billion light-years away.
The signal has a wavelength of 18 centimeters, indicating amplification by hydroxyl molecules in dense gas clouds.
Gravitational lensing by a foreground galaxy enhances the signal.
The discovery shows extreme conditions in colliding galaxies.
The findings were published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters.