Visualization of a star merger that produces gravitational waves.
For the first time, gravitational waves from the merger of two neutron stars has been detected and its source has been visually observed with telescopes. The LIGO and Virgo collaborations first detected the gravitational waves on Aug. 17, 2017, and the sky coordinates of its source were then studied by several observatories around the world. Further study has revealed that the merger likely produced a mind-blowing “10 Earth masses of gold and uranium,” according to Columbia University associate professor Brian Metzger. Learn more about the event:
How far away from Earth was the neutron star merger?
One hundred million light-years away! In comparison, the black hole mergers from previous gravitational wave detections were at least a billion light years away. Chad Hanna, assistant professor of physics and of astronomy & astrophysics and Freed Early Career Professor at Penn State explains:
First detection of the gravitational waves source with the CSIRO telescope in Australia
University of Sydney associate professor Tara Murphy explains:
Want to know more about Multi-Messenger Astrophysics?
Watch Chad Hanna paint a clearer picture with a film analogy:
What is the difference between this and previous gravitational waves detection?
Bangalore Sathyaprakash, Elsbach Professor of Physics and Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Penn State explains:
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