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The binary neutron star (BNS) merger GW170817 was the first astrophysicalsource detected in gravitational waves and multi-wavelength electromagneticradiation. The almost simultaneous observation of a pulse of gamma-rays provedthat BNS mergers are associated with at least some short gamma-ray bursts(GRBs). However, the gamma-ray pulse was faint, casting doubts on theassociation of BNS mergers with the luminous, highly relativistic outflows ofcanonical short GRBs. Here we show that structured jets with a relativistic,energetic core surrounded by slower and less energetic wings produce afterglowemission that brightens characteristically with time, as recently seen in theafterglow of GW170817. Initially, we only see the relatively slow materialmoving towards us. As time passes, larger and larger sections of the outflowbecome visible, increasing the luminosity of the afterglow. The late appearanceand increasing brightness of the multi-wavelength afterglow of GW170817 allowus to constrain the geometry of its ejecta and thus reveal the presence of anoff-axis jet pointing about 30 degrees away from Earth. Our results confirm asingle origin for BNS mergers and short GRBs: GW170817 produced a structuredoutflow with a highly relativistic core and a canonical short GRB. We did notsee the bright burst because it was beamed away from Earth. However,approximately one in 20 mergers detected in gravitational waves will beaccompanied by a bright, canonical short GRB.

Late time afterglow observations reveal a collimated relativistic jet in the ejecta of the binary neutron star merger GW170817