Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto

 

 

Abstract: I will discuss the first detection of gravitational waves from the inspiral and eventual merger of two neutron stars. This cosmic collision was accompanied by emission throughout the entire electromagnetic spectrum, and was observed by thousands of astronomers across the world. Together, the gravitational and electromagnetic emission has begun to answer a multitude of long-standing questions in astrophysics. I will give an overview of this event, what we have learned from it, and what lies ahead for gravitational wave astronomy.