In this paper, we carry out a systematic analysis of the theoretical and observational constraints on the dimensionless coupling constants ci (i = 1, 2, 3, 4) of the Einstein-aether theory, taking into account the events GW170817 and GRB 170817A. The combination of these events restricts the deviation of the speed cT of the spin-2 graviton to the range, −3×10 −15 < cT −1 < 7×10 −16 , which for the Einstein-aether theory implies |c13| ≤ 10 −15 with cij ≡ ci + cj. The rest of the constraints are divided into two groups: those on the (c1, c14)-plane and those on the (c2, c14)-plane, except the strong-field constraints. The latter depend on the sensitivities σae of neutron stars, which are not known at present in the new ranges of the parameters found in this paper.

We study spherically symmetric spacetimes in Einstein-aether theory in three different coordinate systems, the isotropic, Painlevè-Gullstrand, and Schwarzschild coordinates, in which the aether is always comoving, and present both time-dependent and time-independent exact vacuum solutions. In particular, in the isotropic coordinates we find a class of exact static solutions characterized by a single parameter c14 in closed forms, which satisfies all the current observational constraints of the theory, and reduces to the Schwarzschild vacuum black hole solution in the decoupling limit (c14=0). However, as long as c14≠0, a marginally trapped throat with a finite non-zero radius always exists, and on one side of it the spacetime is asymptotically flat, while on the other side the spacetime becomes singular within a finite proper distance from the throat, although the geometric area is infinitely large at the singularity. Moreover, the singularity is a strong and spacetime curvature singularity, at which both of the Ricci and Kretschmann scalars become infinitely large.

In this paper, we systematically study spacetimes of gravitational plane waves in Einstein-aether theory. Due to the presence of the timelike aether vector field, now the problem in general becomes overdetermined. In particular, for the linearly polarized plane waves, there are five independent vacuum Einstein-aether field equations for three unknown functions. Therefore, solutions exist only for particular choices of the four free parameters ci's of the theory. We find that there exist eight cases, in two of which any form of gravitational plane waves can exist, similar to that in general relativity, while in the other six cases, gravitational plane waves exist only in particular forms. Beyond these eight cases, solutions either do not exist or are trivial (simply representing a Minkowski spacetime with a constant or dynamical aether field.).

We study spherically symmetric spacetimes in Einstein-aether theory in three different coordinate systems, the isotropic, Painlev\`e-Gullstrand, and Schwarzschild coordinates, and present both time-dependent and time-independent exact vacuum solutions. In particular, in the isotropic coordinates we find a class of exact static solutions characterized bya single parameter $c_{14}$ in closed forms, which satisfies all the current observational constraints of the theory, and reduces to the Schwarzschild vacuum black hole solution in the decoupling limit ($c_{14} = 0$). However, as long as $c_{14} \not= 0$, a marginally trapped throat with a finite non-zero radius always exists, and in one side of it the spacetime is asymptotically flat, while in the other side the spacetime becomes singular within a finite proper distance from the throat, although the geometric area is infinitely large at the singularity. Moreover, the singularity is a strong and spacetime curvature singularity, at which both of the Ricci and Kretschmann scalars become infinitely large.