Merging neutron stars, illustration. The grid represents space-time, with the ripples representing gravitational waves radiating outwards from the col

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Merging neutron stars, illustration. The grid represents space-time, with the ripples representing gravitational waves radiating outwards from the collision of two neutron stars. The narrow beams show the bursts of gamma rays produced seconds after the gravitational waves. Swirling clouds of material ejected from the merging stars are also depicted. The clouds glow with visible light and other wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. Gravitational waves are detected by advanced laser interferometers suach as LIGO and Virgo. Illustration published in 2017.

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Size: 5358px × 4753px
Photo credit: © NSF/LIGO/Sonoma State University/A. Simonnet/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, 2017, artwork, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, cataclysmic, colliding, collision, ejecta, energy, gamma, gravitational, high, illustration, interferometers, laser, ligo, ligo-virgo, merging, neutron, powerful, rays, ripples, space, space-time, spacetime, star, universe, virgo, wave, waves