Question

In a remote location in washington state in the early hours of september 14, 2015 what did the scientists record on their detector, where did it come from, and when did it originate?

Answer 1

LIGO in Washington detected gravitational waves from the merger of two neutron stars in the galaxy NGC 4993, which was also associated with gamma rays observed by the Fermi satellite, marking a milestone in astronomical observation.

Step-by-step explanation:

On the early hours of September 14, 2015, scientists at the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) in Washington State recorded a gravitational wave event. This phenomenon originated from the merger of two neutron stars in the galaxy named NGC 4993, located approximately 130 million light-years away in the direction of the constellation Hydra.

The gravitational waves traveled through space-time for 130 million years before being detected by LIGO's highly sensitive equipment. Additionally, the Fermi satellite detected a flash of gamma rays emanating from the same event, providing further evidence of the neutron stars' merger and supporting the idea that such cosmic events are the source of short gamma-ray bursts.