Gravitational Waves: New Observatories for New Astronomy

This article reviews the current status of gravitational wave astronomy and explains why astronomers are excited about the new generation of gravitational wave detectors. As part of the review we compare and contrast gravitational radiation to the more familiar electromagnetic radiation. We discuss the current indirect experimental evidence for gravitational waves and how current and future gravitational wave detectors will operate as our newest telescopes are pointed at the skies.