# Gravitational Wave Events — LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA GCN alerts > Real-time gravitational wave event alerts and educational resources. (iPhone/iPad app by Peter Kramer.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gravitational-wave-events/id1441897107 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Peter Kramer](https://appshunter.io/developer/348619994) - Category: Education, News - Price: Free - Rating: 4.80/5 from 133 App Store ratings · 49 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 7 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2018-12-28 - Data updated: 2026-08-20 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gravitational-wave-events/id1441897107/reviews.md ## What is Gravitational Wave Events? Receive alerts of Gravitational Wave Events from the LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA Collaboration (LVK) on your iPhone. This is an app for both the LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA Community and the general public. It provides low latency alerts using the Open Public Alerts currently being deployed by the Gamma-ray Coordinates Network (GCN) through GCN/LVK Notices (https://emfollow.docs.ligo.org/userguide/). To receive alerts using the app just select the category of alerts you wish to receive - it's that simple! The O4 observing run ended in November 2025. Intermediate Run 1 (IR1) is expected to start in late September, 2026. The app will download all IR1 events and counterparts as they are reported through a GCN Notice in addition to any related GCN Circulars. The app database is pre-populated with selected Notices and Circulars from all previous O1, O2, O3 and O4 events. The app retains Notices for one Mock Event reported through GCN for testing purposes. (For information on LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA Collaboration GCN Notices see: https://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/lvc.html .) Includes an interactive sky map showing the location of each event. The app also has a public Message exchange bulletin board and some interesting Links. The Links provide information on Gravitational Waves and the LIGO and Virgo observatories. ## Key features - Real-time GCN/LVK alerts - Interactive sky map - Event database (O1, O2, O3) - GCN Circulars - Public message board - Educational links ## Recent user reviews (10 of 49) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gravitational-wave-events/id1441897107/reviews.md ### 5/5 — For the layman too *2026-08-11* It’s a very interesting app that also color codes for gravitational wave events of interest , and has a little thingy to actually point to the sky were the signal is coming from. Makes you wonder. ### 5/5 — So much fun and learning *2026-02-21* As a family we are enjoying this app. We will run across an event and that will bring up other questions so we end up learning something every time ### 1/5 — it will never make waves *2026-02-14, version 2.1.91* I’m disappointed ### 5/5 — Useful tool *2026-01-07* Been using it for years. Very nice. One suggestion: it would be good if the database could be searched (e.g., show all Vera Rubin circulars). Maybe it’s the already and I don’t know how to access it. ### 5/5 — Perspective *2025-11-18, version 2.1.91* There’s nothing like the news of a cataclysmic collision in deep space to put all earthly concerns into perspective. ### 5/5 — Fun app *2025-10-27* Fun and educational receiving real time alerts on gravitational waves coursing through our time and space. ### 5/5 — Gravitational waves app *2025-08-20* This is in fact the coolest thing ever!!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! ### 5/5 — Must have! *2025-07-25, version 2.1.91* Essenntial app to be preppared for the arrival of a massive-destructive gravitational wave. Martin The Martian always keep me alerted on crisis situations. ### 5/5 — New Science at its best *2025-06-29* Exciting & field breaking gravitational wave detection will become the new telemetry as did all the other scopes. LISA funding is more important than ever, just saying! ### 5/5 — Best Way to See Black Holes *2025-06-10, version 2.1.91* …is to hear them! ## Frequently asked questions about Gravitational Wave Events ### What does the Gravitational Wave Events app do? This app provides low-latency alerts for gravitational wave events detected by the LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA Collaboration. It uses GCN/LVK Notices to deliver information about new events and their counterparts. The app also includes an interactive sky map to visualize event locations and offers educational resources about gravitational waves and the observatories. ### What are the key features of this app? Key features include real-time alerts for gravitational wave events, an interactive sky map displaying event locations, a database pre-populated with past event notices and circulars, a public message exchange bulletin board, and links to educational information about gravitational waves and the LIGO and Virgo observatories. ### Is this app free to use? Yes, the Gravitational Wave Events app is free to use. It does not have any in-app purchases or advertisements, making it accessible for all users interested in gravitational wave science. ### What kind of events can I receive alerts for? You can receive alerts for gravitational wave events detected by the LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA Collaboration. The app provides low-latency alerts through GCN/LVK Notices, including information on events and their counterparts as they are reported. You can also select the categories of alerts you wish to receive. ### Who is the target audience for this app? The app is designed for both the LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA community, such as researchers and students, and the general public who are interested in learning about and staying updated on gravitational wave discoveries and related astronomical phenomena. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.2.2 — 2026-06-29 Updated for visual features of iOS26. ### 2.1.91 — 2025-02-19 Resolve problem with Circular 39259 multiple copies Redo Alert Settings select sound display Continuous update of Event and Message count as they are downloaded ### 2.1.9 — 2025-02-19 Resolve problem with Circular 39259 multiple copies Redo Alert Settings select sound display ### 2.1.8 — 2024-09-07 Fixed app icon badge - eliminated Zombie badging Improved RA/DEC of iPhone orientation on Sky Map Expanded size of Events button ### 2.1.7 — 2024-08-15 Fixed app icon badge Event count reflects Event filters Added sun's RA and Dec to Sky Map ## Apps similar to Gravitational Wave Events | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Astro-COLIBRI](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astro-colibri/id1576668763) | — | Free | Education | | [Quantum Wave in a Box](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quantum-wave-in-a-box/id1179258292) | 3.3 (4) | Free | Education | | [Black hole finder](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-hole-finder/id6446029571) | 4.1 (7) | Free | Education | | [Make Chirps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/make-chirps/id6466780242) | — | Free | Education | | [Quantum Mechanics - Theories](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quantum-mechanics-theories/id1159692911) | 4.5 (178) | Free | Education | | [PHENOM UFO](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phenom-ufo/id6450217112) | 3.4 (17) | Free | Education | ## More apps by Peter Kramer - [Maze Square (Lite)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maze-square-lite/id348864642) - [Springs'nThingsLite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/springsnthingslite/id375527768) - [Maze HyperCube Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maze-hypercube-lite/id378658863) - [iPlayingCards (Lite)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iplayingcards-lite/id393472221) - [Expense List](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/expense-list/id453919019) - [OptionPosition+](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optionposition-plus/id466960840) All apps by Peter Kramer: https://appshunter.io/developer/348619994 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-20.*