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LIGO/TCAC Star Parties |
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Photo: Tri City Herald/Molly Van Wagner |
LIGO Star Parties are sponsored by LIGO and the Tri-City
Astronomy Club.These special events are free and open to the public. The first LIGO star party, Mars Madness, was held on August 29, 2003 and drew an enthusiastic crowd of approximately 1500 visitors. The artful photo above was taken by Tri-City Herald photographer Molly Van Wagner during Mars Madness. LIGO star parties are an excellent opportunity to learn about LIGO; grab wonderful telescopic views of planets, star clusters, and galaxies; view occasional comets, meteors and the moon as conditions allow; get guided tours of LIGO and beautiful naked-eye views of constellations and our own Milky Way Galaxy; learn how to get involved in amateur astronomy.
We welcome additional co-sponsorship for our star parties from organizations interested in promoting education and astronomy in our community. Help with providing transportation, publicity, speakers and volunteers to help guide visitors all contribute to a successful community event. Contact LIGO Hanford Observatory if you are interested in volunteering or your organization is interested in being a co-sponsor.
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Driving directions to LIGO
Upcoming LIGO Star Gazing Events
- Astronomy Day Saturday, May 10, 2008. Join LIGO, the Tri-City Astronomy Club and the CREHST Museum for an Astronomy Day celebration on May 10. The program will start at 7:30 PM with astronomy activities, displays and exhibits. Tri-City Herald astronomy columnist Roy Gephart will present "The Brilliant Exploding Meteor of February 19; What Happened" at 8:00 PM, followed by LIGO's Greg Mendell with "The Sky Tonight; How Far Can We See?" After Greg's presentation, TCAC telescopes will be available for night sky viewing. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. Check the Web site of Columbia Basin College's Moore Observatory for additional Astronomy Day activities.
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Photo: PNNL |
- Perseid Meteor Shower August 11, 2007, 8:00 PM - 2:00 AM (8/12). Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower from the dark skies at LIGO Hanford Observatory. Bring warm clothes and join the Tri-City Astronomy Club for this free-admission family event. Doors open at 8:00 PM with telescocpe displays, LIGO tours and hands-on exhibits. Auditorium presentations at 9:00 PM and 9:45 PM will improve your view of the night sky. The meteors will become visible after 10:30 PM. Tri-City Astronomy Club telescopes will be on hand for some non-meteor viewing.
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- Astronomy Day Saturday, April 21, 2007. Once again LIGO and the Tri-City Astronomy Club willcelebrate Astronomy Day with a free public star gaze on April 21. View planets at 7:30 PM as the sun sets. Join astronomy columnist Roy Gephart for his presentation of "Observing the Springtime Universe" as the sky darkens, followed by a variety of sky views through TCAC telescopes. CREHST Museum will again join us to provide hands-on science for all ages. Additional displays will describe a variety of resources for astronomy enthusiasts of all levels.
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- The Deep Sky's the Limit August 25, 2006 Join LIGO and the Tri-City Astronomy Club for an evening of late-summer star gazing. Start close with the crescent moon, go bit farther to the planets and then go deep to stars, star clusters and galaxies. TCAC telescopes will be ready for your journey through the night sky. Feel free to bring binoculars or a telescope of your own along with warm clothes and snacks!
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| Deep Sky Highlights |
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Image courtesy Michael Garvin, TCAC |
- 2006 National Astronomy Day Saturday, May 6, 2006. Join LIGO, CBC's Moore Observatory and the Tri-City Astronomy Club for National Astronomy Day! Star gazing will be available to all guests at both venues compliments of TCAC. All ages are welcome and admission is free. LIGO's program will begin at 7:00 PM with a showing of the movie "Einstein's Messengers." Tri-City Herald Astronomy Columnist Roy Gephart will follow at 7:30 PM with "Our Place in the Universe," and LIGO scientist Greg Mendell will give a planetarium-style tour of "The Sky Tonight" at 8:15 PM. View the moon, planets and stars. Viewing will be available until 12:00 midnight.
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| Astronomy Day 2006 Highlights |
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- Venga a Ver las Estrellas October 1, 2005, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM. LIGO, the Tri-City Astronomy and Columbia Basin College's Robert and Elisabeth Moore Observatory will hold another Spanish-language public star gaze. LIGO will introduce the basics of gravitational wave astronomy. Guests can sign up for sky tours on the Moore Observatory telescope by phoning for an advance reservation. Drop-in viewing will be available throughout the evening. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.
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| las Estrellas 2005 Highlights |
- 2005 Perseid Meteor Shower August 12, 2005, 8:30 PM - 4:30 AM (8/13). Join LIGO and the Tri-City Astronomy Club for the 2005 installment of the Perseid Meteor Shower. This year we will feature a photography contest -- check back for details. The dark night sky at LIGO provides a great backdrop for the Perseids, and we'll remain open until dawn. Come at 8:30 PM for displays and demonsrations, and attend an auditorium presentation at 10:00 PM to learn more about meteors and about sky photography. Dark-sky meteor viewing will begin at 11:00 PM.
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| 2005 Perseid Event Highlights |
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- El Cielo en Mayo May 21, 2005, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM. Another joint venture of the Tri-City Astronomy Club, LIGO and Columbia Basin College's Robert and Elisabeth Moore Observatory, El Cielo en Mayo will be a Spanish-language public star gaze. Visitors can view the sun, moon, planets and stars through a number of TCAC telescopes and translators will assist the telescope hosts to interpret the views. Guests can sign up for sky tours on the Moore Observatory telescope. LIGO will display a number of exhibits and interactive materials. Drop-in viewing will be available throughout the evening. As always, admission is free and all ages are welcome.
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| El Cielo en Mayo 2005 Highlights |
- National Astronomy Day Star Gaze April 16, 2005, 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM*. This year LIGO and the Tri City Astronomy Club will celebrate National Astronomy Day in partnership with the new Robert and Elisabeth Moore Observatory on the CBC Campus in Pasco. Both the Moore Observatory and LIGO will offer a number of telescopes for your viewing enjoyment. The Moore Observatory will offer 15-min sky tours on its telescope inside the dome (reservations required), and LIGO will host two auditorium presentations before darkness sets in. An interesting evening awaits you at either location! Admission is free at both sites and all ages are welcome. Check our event schedule for more information
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| Astronomy Day 2005 Highlights |
- Perseid Meteor Shower August 11, 2004, 10:00 pm - 4:30 am (8/12). View our best-known meteor shower from the dark night sky at LIGO. You can also learn about the science of meteors while we wait for the sky to darken. The night of August 11 will be the time of greatest meteor activity for the summer, so gather family and friends, let the children stay up late, bring some lawn chairs and enjoy one of the most striking events that the local sky has to offer.
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| Meteor Shower Highlights |
- National Astronomy Day Star Gaze, April 24, 2004, 2:00 pm - 11:00 pm. The main event. Capture views of sunspots, craters on the moon, planets, and deep sky objects. Learn about LIGO's search for spacequakes.
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Cosponsored by Ben Franklin Transit, providing free bus service between the former Hanford Bus Station (at Stevens Drive, near Spengler Street in Richland) and LIGO Hanford Observatory from 2:00 PM to 11:30 PM. We expect large attendance at this event and parking may be limited at the LIGO site, so we enourage people to ride the free buses.
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| Astronomy Day Highlights |
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Spring into Astronomy! April 17, 2004, 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm. Warm up your stargazing skills! Learn how to get started in amateur astronomy for little or no money. Learn how to find your way around the sky. Get ready for the main event: National Astronomy Day!
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Cosponsored by Yakima Valley / Tri-Cities MESA and GEAR UP. We especially encourage parents and children to come to this event. It could be the beginning of a great family hobby!
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