'8 billion-light-years-away': India’s MACE Telescope spots ancient cosmic blast older than Earth

Ladakh's MACE telescope detects a powerful explosion from a distant quasar, dating back 8 billion years. (Image: AI Generated)

India’s eye in the sky has unlocked a cosmic secret. The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) telescope in Ladakh has detected a massive gamma-ray flare from a distant galaxy, a signal older than Earth itself.

On Republic Day this year, scientists from Mumbai’s Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) observed a gamma-ray flare from quasar OP 313, also called B2 1308+326. This energetic burst, located 8 billion light-years away, predates Earth’s formation by nearly 3.5 billion years.

The discovery, made using the world’s highest gamma-ray telescope, offers fresh insight into the early universe. Scientists explained that the light detected began its journey when the universe was less than half its current age.

A light-year measures distance, not time. To put this in perspective, light from the Sun takes about eight minutes to reach Earth, which is around 150 million kilometres away.

Perched at 4,300 metres above sea level in Ladakh’s Hanle region, MACE is unlike any other telescope. Designed for high-energy astronomy, it focuses on cosmic events like supernovae, black holes and dark matter.

The 21-metre-wide telescope weighs 180 tonnes and features 356 mirror panels. Its high-resolution imaging camera, weighing 1,200 kilograms, helps decode some of the universe’s most complex mysteries.

Built by BARC under the Department of Atomic Energy, MACE is the largest telescope in Asia and the highest of its kind globally.

After MACE’s discovery, observatories in Russia and the United States confirmed the sighting. Scientists believe such gamma-ray flares offer vital clues about the birth and evolution of galaxies.

The explosion's age highlights how vast and ancient the universe truly is. While Earth is around 4.5 billion years old, this flare started its journey long before our planet formed.

The MACE telescope continues to scan the skies, capturing glimpses of the universe’s distant past, helping scientists unravel the secrets of space.