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Sensing the Universe

Multimessenger astronomy animation showing particles, light, and gravitational waves
The three carriers of information in multimessenger astronomy – particles, light, and gravitational waves – are shown in this illustration.
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Levels
  • Intermediate (6-8)
  • Advanced (9-12+)
Material Type
  • Article/Informative Text
Heliophysics Big Ideas
  • Big Idea 2.3 – The Sun is the primary source of light…
NGSS
  • PS4 - Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer
Heliophysics Topics
  • Electromagnetic Spectrum
  • Radiation
  • Light
Related Missions
  • James Webb Space Telescope (Astro)
Material Cost per Learner Free
Language English

We experience the world through different senses: sight, touch, taste, hearing, and smell. Similarly, astronomers now study the universe using different messengers: light, particles, and space-time ripples called gravitational waves. They can learn much more about cosmic objects and events by combining information from multiple messengers than by using just one. Scientists call this approach multimessenger astronomy (Click Here)