ASTROPHYSICS / GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE ASTRONOMY

LR-FIRST-MULTIMESSENGER-NS-MERGEROPEN LIMIT

First multi-messenger observation of a neutron star merger

Name: First multi-messenger observation of a neutron star merger
Creator: Limits Registry
Published: 2017-10-16T00:00:00.000Z
Keywords: ASTROPHYSICS / GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE ASTRONOMY

GW170817, detected on August 17, 2017 by LIGO and Virgo, was the first observed merger of two neutron stars — and, within about two seconds, was matched to a gamma-ray burst and then to weeks of follow-up observations across radio, optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray telescopes worldwide. It remains the only gravitational-wave event to date with a confirmed electromagnetic counterpart, and directly confirmed neutron-star mergers as a site of heavy-element (r-process) nucleosynthesis.

— page viewsSpecification version 1Published 2017-10-161 evidence records

About this problem

The question, scope, and sources behind this Registry record.

Description

Formal question

The year a single astrophysical event was first observed both in gravitational waves and across the electromagnetic spectrum.

Scope & constraints

Current published specification applies.

Primary sources

Abbott et al., "Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger," The Astrophysical Journal Letters — First multi-messenger observation of a neutron star merger LIGO/Virgo Collaboration, worldwide follow-up network

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Scope matches the published specificationNo parameters changed

What we know

Current frontiers derived from accepted Claims.

Best demonstrated value2017

An observed or demonstrated result; no opposing bound is implied.

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Claims

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2026

CLM-FIRST-MULTIMESSENGER-NS-MERGER= 2017CONSTRUCTIONCoincident gravitational-wave strain detection (LIGO/Virgo) matched in time and sky position to a short gamma-ray burst (Fermi/INTEGRAL) and a subsequent optical/infrared kilonova, coordinated across dozens of observatories.Evidence quality: PAPER · Source: Abbott et al., "Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger," The Astrophysical Journal Letters — First multi-messenger observation of a neutron star merger ↗

SOURCE CONFIRMED

Timeline

The frontier as it changed over time.

How this frontier is derived

Only accepted Claims matching the current specification contribute to the displayed bounds. Strict inequalities remain open; contradictory Claims require editorial review.

—No breakthrough events recorded yetEvents appear here when an accepted Claim tightens a bound or closes the frontier.

First multi-messenger observation of a neutron star merger

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Evidence-backed record

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First multi-messenger observation of a neutron star merger

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