Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Alerts! Questions? Discussions... => Topic started by: Roy on Jun 23, 2020, 20:26:33

Title: New Type Object and New Science Required?
Post by: Roy on Jun 23, 2020, 20:26:33
The LIGO-VIRGO collaboration have identified a new type of object as a result of a gravitational wave observation designated GW190814 from last Summer: the merger was between a black hole of approximately 23 stellar masses and an object that has been dubbed a 'Black Neutron Star' of approximately 2.6 stellar masses. This new object is described as either a very small black hole or a very large neutron star and it's discovery may require modifications to our theories. Here are some links including the release by Caltech:

https://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-GW190814/ (https://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-GW190814/)

https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/news/ligo20200623 (https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/news/ligo20200623)

https://news.psu.edu/story/623786/2020/06/23/research/black-hole-or-neutron-star (https://news.psu.edu/story/623786/2020/06/23/research/black-hole-or-neutron-star)

We certainly live in interesting times....

Roy
Title: Re: New Type Object and New Science Required?
Post by: Carole on Jun 23, 2020, 22:21:23
How interesting.

Carole
Title: Re: New Type Object and New Science Required?
Post by: Hugh on Jun 23, 2020, 22:40:30
Thanks Roy ~ It's amazing science!

I couldn't see a link anywhere to allow us hear the 'merger' ~ would have been great.  I'll have to give myself more time to read them through in detail.

Hugh