The BlackGEM telescope network, consisting of three new additions situated at ESO’s La Silla Observatory, is now functional. An impressive photograph of the trio of BlackGEM observatories with their domes open under a beautiful star-filled sky at La Silla has been captured. Other observatories can be seen dotting the background. Credit: S. Bloemen (Radboud University)/ESO
Housed at the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) La Silla Observatory, the BlackGEM telescope network is now operational, ready to detect gravitational waves resulting from monumental cosmic events like black hole and neutron star collisions.
Distinct from other detectors like LIGO and the Virgo Interferometer, BlackGEM is equipped to accurately pinpoint these celestial occurrences using visible light, thereby augmenting our comprehension of the associated processes, including the creation of heavy elements such as gold and platinum.
The BlackGEM network, comprising three telescopes stationed at ESO’s La Silla Observatory, has initiated operations. These telescopes are set to comb the southern sky in search of the celestial phenomena that yield gravitational waves, particularly the fusion of neutron stars and black holes.
In the vastness of the cosmos, dramatic events like black hole or neutron star collisions produce gravitational waves, causing disturbances in the fabric of space and time. Observatories like the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the Virgo Interferometer are devised to detect these space-time ripples. However, they fall short of accurately locating their origin or capturing the fleeting light ensuing from neutron star and black hole collisions. The BlackGEM telescopes are dedicated to efficiently scanning expansive celestial areas to accurately track down the sources of gravitational waves using visible light.
An aerial drone shot provides a close-up of the open domes of the BlackGEM network at ESO’s La Silla Observatory. The three 65-cm telescopes comprising the network can be seen inside. Credit: ESO
“Our objective with BlackGEM is to broaden the investigation of cosmic events using both gravitational waves and visible light,” says Paul Groot from Radboud University in the Netherlands, the project’s Principal Investigator. “Integrating the two provides us with a much richer understanding of these events than relying on one or the other.”
Detecting both gravitational waves and their visible counterparts empowers astronomers to confirm the nature of gravitational-wave sources and locate them precisely. Observing visible light further allows detailed study of the processes involved in these mergers, such as the formation of heavy elements like gold and platinum.
The photo showcases the trio of BlackGEM telescopes at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile, all set to scan large celestial areas for sources of gravitational waves detected by LIGO and Virgo. Credit: Zdeněk Bardon (bardon.cz)/ESO
To date, only one visible counterpart to a gravitational-wave source has been detected. Even the most sophisticated gravitational-wave detectors like LIGO or Virgo are incapable of precisely identifying their sources; they can only confine the location to an area roughly the size of 400 full moons. BlackGEM, however, can efficiently scan these vast regions with sufficient resolution to consistently locate gravitational-wave sources using visible light.
The three telescopes that constitute BlackGEM were constructed by a consortium of universities: Radboud University, the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy, and KU Leuven in Belgium. Each telescope, 65 centimeters in diameter, can examine different areas of the sky concurrently. The collaboration plans to eventually expand the network to 15 telescopes, further enhancing its scanning coverage. Hosted at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile, BlackGEM is the inaugural network of its type in the southern hemisphere.
The photo features a BlackGEM telescope nestled within its dome. The BlackGEM network, composed of three 65-cm telescopes, is stationed at ESO’s La Silla Observatory. Credit: ESO
“Despite the humble 65-centimeter primary mirror, we are able to reach depths comparable to some projects with considerably larger mirrors, primarily due to the superb observing conditions at La Silla,” notes Groot.
Once BlackGEM accurately identifies a gravitational wave source, larger telescopes like ESO’s Very Large Telescope or the upcoming ESO Extremely Large Telescope can undertake detailed follow-up observations to provide insight into some of the most intense cosmic events.
Nighttime imaging captures the three BlackGEM telescopes at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile, with the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds visible above the telescopes. BlackGEM is designed to swiftly scan broad sky areas for sources of gravitational waves detected by LIGO and Virgo. Credit: ESO
Apart from hunting for optical counterparts to gravitational waves, BlackGEM will also conduct surveys of the southern sky. It operates fully automated, enabling the network to promptly find and observe ‘transient’ astronomical events, which appear suddenly and fade away just as quickly. This will afford astronomers a more profound understanding of ephemeral celestial phenomena such as supernovae, the colossal explosions that signal the end of a massive star’s life.
“Thanks to BlackGEM, La Silla now possesses the potential to become a significant contributor to transient research,” states Ivo Saviane, site manager at ESO’s La Silla Observatory. “We anticipate many remarkable results from this project, expanding the site’s reach to both the scientific community and the public.”
This compilation of drone and stationary footage reveals the three BlackGEM telescopes at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile, located at an altitude of 2400 meters in the Atacama Desert, offering astronomers pristine observing conditions. BlackGEM is geared to swiftly scan vast sky areas for sources of gravitational waves detected by LIGO and Virgo. The telescopes were built by a consortium of universities: the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy, KU Leuven in Belgium, and Radboud University. Credit: ESO
Additional Information
The BlackGEM consortium includes: NOVA (Netherlands Research School for Astronomy, the national Dutch alliance in astronomy between the University of Amsterdam, University of Groningen, Leiden University, and Radboud University); Radboud University, the Netherlands; KU Leuven, Belgium; the Weizmann Institute, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University, Israel; the University of Manchester and the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, UK; Texas Tech University, the University of California at Davis and the Las Cumbres Observatory, USA; the University of Potsdam, Germany; the Danish Technical University, Denmark; the University of Barcelona, Spain; and the University of Valparaíso, Chile.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about BlackGEM Telescopes Gravitational Waves
What is the BlackGEM array?
The BlackGEM array is a network of three new telescopes located at the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) La Silla Observatory in Chile. These telescopes are built to detect and precisely locate gravitational waves, which are caused by cosmic events like black hole and neutron star mergers.
How does the BlackGEM array detect gravitational waves?
Unlike some detectors such as LIGO and the Virgo Interferometer, the BlackGEM array can precisely locate the astronomical phenomena that produce gravitational waves using visible light. It scans large areas of the sky quickly to hunt down gravitational-wave sources.
What is the importance of detecting gravitational waves?
Detecting both gravitational waves and their visible counterparts allows astronomers to confirm the nature of gravitational-wave sources and determine their precise locations. Using visible light also enables detailed observations of the processes that occur in these mergers, including the formation of heavy elements like gold and platinum.
Who built the BlackGEM telescopes?
BlackGEM’s three telescopes were built by a consortium of universities including Radboud University, the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy, and KU Leuven in Belgium.
What other functions does the BlackGEM array have?
Apart from hunting for the optical counterparts to gravitational waves, the BlackGEM array also conducts surveys of the southern sky and observes ‘transient’ astronomical events, which appear suddenly and quickly fade out of view. These events could include short-lived astronomical phenomena such as supernovae.
What’s the future plan for the BlackGEM array?
The collaboration behind BlackGEM eventually aims to expand the array to 15 telescopes, improving its scanning coverage even more.
More about BlackGEM Telescopes Gravitational Waves
- European Southern Observatory
- Gravitational Waves Explained
- LIGO: Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
- Virgo Interferometer
- Radboud University
- Netherlands Research School for Astronomy
- KU Leuven
- Supernovae
