The resolution of these instruments is astonishing - and literally a new window on the universe. Obviously, being able to detect amplitudes so small is key to

The resolution of these instruments is astonishing - and literally a new window on the universe. Obviously, being able to detect amplitudes so small is key to this whole project, as the sources are so distant (and presumably the inverse square law applies). This makes me wonder how these phenomena would appear much closer to the events - how close would we need to be to perceive with our senses the passing of a gravitational wave, and what would it look like? I'm guessing some kind of passing tidal forces would be felt — has anyone done modeling to figure out what that might be like? How close and how much amplitude (or would frequency be the killer?) would be required to start damaging ordinary material objects? Is it so close to the source that you're already doomed in the black hole's grip anyway, or would an event at the center of our galaxy be perceptible here? Would the waves rip apart nearby stars (for what value of nearby), or be noticeable in their spectra as some kind of ripple? It'd be cool to get some kind of a sense of the scale of these events' affected zone.