1
00:00:00,001 --> 00:00:11,835
"Hubble observed what kind of explosion created by two neutron stars merging?"

2
00:00:11,835 --> 00:00:20,795
In another galaxy two stars that were orbiting one other, a binary system, ended up merging together.

3
00:00:20,795 --> 00:00:27,861
That event also spawned an explosion that we call a kilonova.

4
00:00:27,861 --> 00:00:36,748
That event was so traumatic in the world of spacetime that it sent a pulse of gravitational waves through the universe.

5
00:00:36,748 --> 00:00:42,696
They were detected, not by Hubble, but by gravitational wave detectors on the ground.

6
00:00:42,696 --> 00:00:49,288
When we knew there was a gravitational wave event, and we pointed Hubble in the direction of that event,

7
00:00:49,288 --> 00:00:56,777
we pointed it at that galaxy, we saw a beautiful picture of this explosive smudge in that galaxy

8
00:00:56,777 --> 00:01:04,381
which was basically the pulse of light that came from that kilonova. 

9
00:01:04,381 --> 00:01:25,505
[ INTENSE MUSIC ]