LIGO AND VIRGO MAKE FIRST DETECTION OF GRAVITATIONAL WAVES PRODUCED BY COLLIDING NEUTRON STARS

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Image credit: Karan Jani/Georgia Tech

16 Oct 2017 — For the first time, scientists have directly detected gravitational waves — ripples in space-time — in addition to light from the spectacular collision of two neutron stars. This marks the first time that a cosmic event has been viewed in both gravitational waves and light. The discovery was made on August 17, 2017 using the U.S.-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO); the Europe-based Virgo detector; and some 70 ground- and space- based observatories.

For more information see the press release, the ligo.org detection page for GW170817, and the LIGO Lab page for GW170817.

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