A radio signal 9 billion light-years away from Earth has been captured.
The signal was detected by a unique wavelength known as a “21-centimeter line” or the “hydrogen line,” which is reportedly emitted by neutral hydrogen atoms.
The signal captured by the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope in India means that scientists can start investigating the formation of some of the earliest stars and galaxies, the report said.
Researchers detected the signal from a “star-forming galaxy” titled SDSSJ0826+5630, which was emitted by the 13.8 billion-year-old Milky Way.
A galaxy emits different kinds of radio signals. Until now, it’s only been possible to capture this particular signal from a galaxy nearby, limiting our knowledge to those galaxies closer to Earth,” Chakraborty said.
It is the equivalent to a look-back in time of 8.8 billion years. The signal allowed astronomers to measure the galaxy’s gas content and therefore find the galaxy’s mass.
This determination has led scientists to conclude that this far-off galaxy is double the mass of the stars visible from Earth, the report said.
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