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Identification of most distant fast radio burst host galaxy

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-13 00:05 UTC → 2026-10-16 20:49 UTC · added removed

Astronomers have identified the host galaxy of FRB 20240304B, the most distant fast radio burst (FRB) ever recorded. recorded with a known location. The signal signal, initially detected on March 4, 2024, by the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa, traveled for over 10 billion years, originating when the universe was approximately one-fifth of its current age. The discovery involved using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa to detect 3 billion years old. Using the initial millisecond-long signal, followed by observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to pinpoint the source. The JWST identified (JWST), researchers pinpointed the host source as a small, young young, metal-poor dwarf galaxy characterized by intense star formation and low metal content. formation. This galaxy is noted to be approximately 1,000 times less massive discovery more than previously expected doubles the previous record for such events. Using Webb’s infrared capabilities, researchers a burst with a confirmed host galaxy. The JWST observations measured a redshift of 2.148, placing the event approximately 3 billion years after the Big Bang. While ground-based telescopes were unable to see confirming the host galaxy due to its faintness, the JWST localization confirmed the source is a tiny, metal-poor dwarf galaxy. These tiny galaxy approximately 1,000 times less massive than those typically associated with such events. The findings provide critical data evidence regarding the origins of FRBs. The characteristics of the this host galaxy support the theory that these bursts are caused produced by young magnetars—highly magnetized neutron stars—rather than the merger of older neutron stars. stars, though the exact cause remains unproven.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-16 20:49 UTC Identification of most distant fast radio burst host galaxy
  2. 2026-10-13 00:05 UTC Identification of most distant fast radio burst host galaxy
  3. 2026-10-11 14:25 UTC Identification of most distant fast radio burst host galaxy

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