Astronomers detect light and gravity from cosmic explosion

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In an astronomical first, scientists detected light and gravity from what they believe was the collision of two ultra-compact dense neutron stars in galaxy NG 4993.

First detected in 2013, a kilonova is a class of supernova explosion resulting from two colliding neutron stars.

The Space Telescope Science Institute says each neutron in this case was no wider than Washington, D.C. Typically, they're between 6 and 12 miles in diameter.

The Institute added that the stars in question weighed between 10 percent and 60 percent more than our sun."

RUNDOWN SHOWS:
1. Milky way and hydra constellation
2. Depiction of kilonova
3. Depiction of kilonova emitting different signals
4. Depiction of black hole formation

VOICEOVER (in English):

"Millions of light years from the Milky Way, inside the Hydra constellation is an elliptical galaxy."

"It's here astronomers believe they detected both light and gravity from a kilonova event."

"First detected in 2013, a kilonova is a class of supernova explosion resulting from two colliding neutron stars."

"The Space Telescope Science Institute says each neutron in this case was no wider than Washington, D.C. Typically, they're between 6 and 12 miles in diameter."

"The Institute added that the stars in question weighed between 10 percent and 60 percent more than our sun."

"It's the collision of two of these ultra-compact densities that astronomers believe emitted light and gravity strong enough to be observed on Earth."

"What followed the kilonova is unknown, but NASA astrophysicist Eleonora Troja speculates the cosmic explosion may have a formed a black hole."

SOURCES: European Space Observatory, Hubble Site (Space Telescope Science Institute), Space, Forbes

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