On August 17, 2017, for the first time in history, gravitational waves generated by two merging neutron stars were detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatories (LIGO). And for the same event, gamma ray, x-ray, ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and radio observations were recorded.
This world-wide collaboration of more than 70 observatories and hundreds of research institutions opens the new era in multi-messenger astronomy. The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and the Southern Africa Large Telescope (SALT) located in Sutherland, South Africa, played a prominent role in this historic astronomical event.
This short film provides an interview with Head of SALT Astronomy Ops, Petri Vaisanen, and Itumeleng Monageng, PhD candidate University of Cape Town.
Watch the film | Watch other films about LIGO | Watch other films about the SAAO