GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Neutron Star Inspiral
This paper reports the first detection of gravitational waves from the inspiral of a binary neutron star system, event GW170817, observed on 17 August 2017 by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. The signal lasted far longer than previous black-hole mergers, consistent with low-mass compact objects. The detection, coincident with a short gamma-ray burst and subsequent electromagnetic follow-up, inaugurated multimessenger astronomy with gravitational waves.