Approximately how much brighter is a kilonova compared to a standard classical nova?

Secrets of neutron stars

Chapter 1

The birth of a cosmic giant

Chapter 2

Cosmic magnets and beacons

Chapter 3

Cosmic collisions and gold mines

YOUR GOAL

Master of Secrets of neutron stars

Ch 3 · Cosmic collisions and gold mines
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hue Neutron Star Collisions

Cosmic gold, cosmic gold / It is born when stars collide!

Jul 20

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hue Ripples in the fabric of space

Jul 20

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The beautiful blast of a kilonova

hue A kilonova is a spectacular explosion triggered by the merger of two neutron stars.

Jul 20

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Ripples in the fabric of space

hue When two neutron stars merge, they send gravitational waves stretching across the universe.

Jul 20

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Neutron Gold Rush
BETA

hue Neutron Gold Rush

Jul 20

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Fun Fact

Cosmic gold: Most of the gold in wedding rings was likely created in colliding neutron stars.

Jul 20

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Glossary
kilonova (noun)
An astronomical event that occurs when two compact objects, such as neutron stars, merge. Observations of the 2017 merger GW170817 confirmed that these events synthesize heavy elements like gold.

Jul 20

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Gossip

Would you wear gold made in a lab or from space?

Jul 20

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Quiz

What is the ultimate fate of two colliding neutron stars if their combined mass is too high?

Jul 20

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hue The ultimate fate of cosmic pairs

Jul 20

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Quiz

What are the ripples in spacetime called that are generated by merging neutron stars?

Jul 20

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hue Where the universe makes its gold

Jul 20

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Quiz

What is the name of the explosion caused by two colliding neutron stars?

Jul 20

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hue The beautiful blast of a kilonova

Jul 20

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Quiz

What is the name of the scientific detectors in the US that first spotted these spacetime ripples?

Jul 20

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Quiz

Which precious metal is primarily forged during the collision of neutron stars?

Jul 20

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Quiz

What is the mass limit above which a neutron star collapses into a black hole?

Jul 20

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Quiz

Approximately how much brighter is a kilonova compared to a standard classical nova?

Jul 20

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Quiz

In which year did scientists first detect both gravitational waves and light from a neutron star collision?

Jul 20