Colliding Black Holes Make Waves
The collision of two black holes is seen in this still from a computer simulation. This event was detected for the first time ever by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO. LIGO detected gravitational waves, or ripples in space and time generated as the black holes spiraled in toward each other, collided, and merged. This simulation shows how the merger would appear to our eyes if we could travel close enough to see it. It was created by solving equations from Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity using LIGO data. The two merging black holes are each roughly 30 times the mass of the sun, with one slightly larger than the other. The event took place billion years ago.
Size: 4328px × 2700px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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