antikythera-astronomy:Second Gravitational Wave Discovered! Scientists at LIGO have just detected
antikythera-astronomy: Second Gravitational Wave Discovered! Scientists at LIGO have just detected gravitational waves for the second time ever! This is exciting news as it signals that the first detection wasn’t merely a fluke but that we are in fact on the right track to interacting with such phenomena regularly. What is a gravitational wave? It’s a literal “jiggle” in spacetime caused by a dramatic event like the collision of two large black holes. This effectively busts wide open a new field of astronomy: gravitational-wave astronomy! Many space scientists rely on either rovers, spacecraft, optical, radio or even infrared observatories (or some combination) etc. Well now it seems plausible to expect more astronomers to specialize in the interaction between gravitatyand the fabric of spacetime itself. Considering things like black holes, dark energy and dark matter leave all have considerable gravitational marks and yet hold many secrets back from light, it could stand to reason we now sit on the threshold of a new era in astronomy. For now though a new door has opened and it’s time to explore (Image credit: LIGO/T. Pyle) I smell a Nobel prize. -- source link
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