The gravity chirp danger zone

Published 24 February 2016

From Nathaniel Hellerstein

LIGO detected the gravitational waves from a black-hole merger (13 February, p 6). The energy released in gravitational radiation was equivalent to three solar masses. That's a lot of energy in a short chirp; a greater power output than all the stars in the universe. I was wondering how close your spaceship would have to be to the black holes for you to feel the chirp. Also, how close for the chirp to kill you.

San Francisco, US