Scientists have observed a massive burst of energy in space that appears to be moving faster than the speed of light. However, this may just be an optical illusion known as supraluminal motion. Such phenomena occur when particles move very close to the speed of light. In this case, scientists observed jets of energy emerging from the collision site between two neutron stars. They were extremely dense and over massed the collapsed star core.
The collision between those two neutron stars was much more powerful. The resulting waves are known as gravitational waves. Einstein first explained this gravitational wave in 1916.
In 2016, after detecting the collision between two black holes, scientists started researching these waves. In 2017, researchers were able to detect a neutron star.
Gravitational waves are not visible to the naked eye. They can be detected using tools like the Large Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in Pasadena.
In 2017, astronomers around the world began to collect more information about the burst of waves from the star using telescopes. They were then able to identify Conner’s jet which was speeding away from the collision site.
Astronomers began studying the jet of particles using a variety of tools, including the Hubble Satellite Telescope and the Gaia Space Observatory. Data was being collected about it using six radio telescopes.
At first, it appeared to be traveling faster than the speed of light due to optical illusions. But the particles in the jet were moving very close to the speed of light. Scientists were able to explain superluminal motion mathematically in a way that did not violate any principles of physics.