Tours & Events
Tours
The LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) hosts free tours for the public and school groups throughout the year. Click on the links below to learn more.
Special Events
LHO periodically hosts star parties, open houses, and other special events for the public. Descriptions of and links to more information on upcoming special events at the observatory will be listed below.
Binary Neutron Star merger celebration!
May 12th 2018, 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
In lieu of our regularly scheduled monthly tour, on May 12th, LIGO Hanford Observatory will host a public celebration of our first detection of a binary neutron star merger. This historic event was subsequently observed by more than half of the world's electromagnetic astronomers, making it by far the most observed astronomical event in human history. Moreover the scientific discoveries made as a result of this detection astounded the astronomical community, and GW170817 (what we now call it) is still being studied today by radio astronomers.
LIGO's celebration will include public talks, tours, daytime Sun and nightime-star gazing with Tri-Cities Astronomy club, the Mid Columbia Ballet Senior company, and local area students displaying LIGO-inspired art.
The event will begin at 5:00 pm and end at 11 pm. The event is free, but due to limited capacity will require advanced tickets (this helps us manage and plan tours and lectures so everyone has the best experience). Click on the link below to reserve your place!
BNS Merger Celebration Tickets
