Astronomers Discover Most Distant Fast Radio Burst Ever

In a groundbreaking discovery, an international team of astronomers has detected a fast radio burst (FRB) that holds the record as the most distant one ever identified. This enigmatic cosmic event, lasting less than a millisecond, was pinned down with the help of the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT). Located in a galaxy so remote that its light took an astounding eight billion years to reach us, this FRB is not only the most distant but also one of the most energetic ever observed. In a mere fraction of a second, it emitted energy equivalent to the total output of our Sun over 30 years.

The discovery, named FRB 20220610A, was made in June of the previous year by the ASKAP radio telescope in Australia, shattering the team’s previous distance record by a remarkable 50 percent.

This revelation provides a glimpse into the hidden universe and offers a new way to measure the ‘missing’ matter between galaxies, a mystery that has puzzled astronomers for years. It could hold the key to resolving conflicting estimates regarding the mass of the Universe.

While the cause of these powerful bursts of energy remains a mystery, the paper confirms that fast radio bursts are common occurrences in the cosmos. As we delve deeper into the cosmos, we inch closer to understanding the Universe’s hidden secrets.

Photo: ESO EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY

Source: LULOP