Astronomers Strike Gold As Gravitational Waves Detected From Star Collision
- 6 years ago
For the first time, astronomers have observed a cosmic event through both gravitational waves, or “ripples in space time,” and light.
For the first time, astronomers have observed a cosmic event through both gravitational waves, or “ripples in space time,” and light.
The event was tracked by numerous space missions including the U.S.-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).
The collision of two neutron stars, observed in August, occurred roughly 130 million light years from Earth in the galaxy NGC 4993.
“As these neutron stars spiraled together, they emitted gravitational waves that were detectable for about 100 seconds; when they collided, a flash of light in the form of gamma rays was emitted and seen on Earth about two seconds after the gravitational waves," according to a LIGO news release about the discovery. "In the days and weeks following the smashup, other forms of light, or electromagnetic radiation — including X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and radio waves — were detected.”
The multiple observations are allowing scientists to study the neutron star collision in unprecedented detail.
"For example, observations…reveal signatures of recently synthesized material, including gold and platinum, solving a decades-long mystery of where about half of all elements heavier than iron are produced," the LIGO release further notes.
“Our background analysis showed an event of this strength happens less than once in 80,000 years by random coincidence, so we recognized this right away as a very confident detection and a remarkably nearby source," Laura Cadonati, one of the scientists involved, commented. "This detection has genuinely opened the doors to a new way of doing astrophysics. I expect it will be remembered as one of the most studied astrophysical events in history.”
For the first time, astronomers have observed a cosmic event through both gravitational waves, or “ripples in space time,” and light.
The event was tracked by numerous space missions including the U.S.-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).
The collision of two neutron stars, observed in August, occurred roughly 130 million light years from Earth in the galaxy NGC 4993.
“As these neutron stars spiraled together, they emitted gravitational waves that were detectable for about 100 seconds; when they collided, a flash of light in the form of gamma rays was emitted and seen on Earth about two seconds after the gravitational waves," according to a LIGO news release about the discovery. "In the days and weeks following the smashup, other forms of light, or electromagnetic radiation — including X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and radio waves — were detected.”
The multiple observations are allowing scientists to study the neutron star collision in unprecedented detail.
"For example, observations…reveal signatures of recently synthesized material, including gold and platinum, solving a decades-long mystery of where about half of all elements heavier than iron are produced," the LIGO release further notes.
“Our background analysis showed an event of this strength happens less than once in 80,000 years by random coincidence, so we recognized this right away as a very confident detection and a remarkably nearby source," Laura Cadonati, one of the scientists involved, commented. "This detection has genuinely opened the doors to a new way of doing astrophysics. I expect it will be remembered as one of the most studied astrophysical events in history.”