Pulsar Timing Array (VIDEO)
Caption
This animation demonstrates interacting supermassive black holes in merging galaxies and how this generates low frequency gravitational waves. As these waves propagate through space, they cause coordinated changes in the arrival times of radio signals from pulsars, the universe's most stable natural clocks, as seen from Earth. These telltale variations can be detected by powerful radio telescopes, like the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico and the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia.
Credit
John Rowe, Swinburne University of Technology
Usage Restrictions
None
License
Licensed content