Explore the groundbreaking field of gravitational-wave astronomy in this 53-minute lecture by Patrick Brady from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Delve into the fundamentals of gravitational waves and detector functionality before examining the insights gained from events identified by the LIGO and Virgo Collaborations. Discover merger rate estimates, mass distributions of compact binary systems, and the implications of multi-messenger observations. Gain an understanding of physical effects, noise budgets, and observing runs in gravitational-wave detection. Learn about binary systems, strain at detectors, and the analysis of open data. Investigate the GWTC-1 catalog, focusing on spins and their role in understanding the expansion of the Universe. Conclude with a look at Observing Run 03 and future prospects in this rapidly evolving field of astronomy.