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We're very excited because
in the first few weeks
of our new observing run
of the LIGO detectors
and Virgo in Italy, we have
a second binary neutron star
system collision.
A binary neutron
star system consists
of two neutron stars, which
are very dense types of stars.
The densest material we
know in the universe.
It took us 100 years
to design and develop
an instrument that would
be capable of detecting
any gravitational wave.
And the LIGO gravitational
wave interferometers
are the most sensitive
instruments on earth.
And now that we've got them at
the appropriate sensitivity,
this is going to be
a discovery machine.
We are going to be
making discoveries
on an extremely regular basis.
And discoveries often, that
are largely unknown in nature.
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SkyMapper is a 1.3 meter
diameter telescope that
has a very wide field of view.
When LIGO detects an object,
it can't localize the position
of the source of the
gravitational waves
with a great deal of accuracy.
And so we are able to
use SkyMapper, then,
to follow up that
large area of sky
and try to pin down
the optical counterpart
of the gravitational
wave source.
The mystery of these
gravitational wave sources
is such that it's really
generating excitement
amongst the entire
worldwide community.
I've never seen a period
in my scientific career
of such extraordinary
possibility for new science.
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