GW170817 launches multi-messenger neutron-star astronomy
GW170817 launches multi-messenger neutron-star astronomy
Overview
On 17 August 2017 LIGO and Virgo detected GW170817, the inspiral of two neutron stars, followed 1.7 seconds later by a gamma-ray burst and, across the following weeks, a kilonova observed by telescopes worldwide. The event proved neutron-star mergers forge heavy elements such as gold and platinum, gave an independent 'standard siren' measure of the Hubble constant, and confirmed gravitational waves travel at light speed. It inaugurated true multi-messenger astronomy.