Star Parties

Telescope photo courtesy Tri-City Herald/Molly Van Wagner

LIGO/Tri-City Astronomy Club Star Parties

LIGO Star Parties are sponsored by LIGO and the Tri-City Astronomy Club.These special events are free and open to the public. You'll find several on our list of 2009 International Year of Astronomy activities. 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 at outreach(at)ligo-wa.caltech.edu if you are interested in volunteering or your organization is interested in being a co-sponsor.

Driving directions to LIGO

Upcoming LIGO Star Gazing Events

There Goes the Sun May 20, 2012, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Experience a partial
solar eclipse at the Moore Observatory (CBC campus). Eye-safe solar telescopes will give you views of a crescent Sun! All ages are welcome. Enjoy hands-on astronomy activities for kids. Solar viewing will continue through sunset; view planets until 9:00 PM.

Venus Across the Sun June 5, 2012, 3:00 PM - Sunset Watch Venus move across the face of the Sun, the last Earth-viewable Venus transit for 105 years! Come to LIGO for this family-friendly event. All ages are welcome. Enjoy eye-safe solar telescopes and hands-on astronomy activities for kids. Professor Andrea Dobson of Whitman College will speak on "Venus Transits and the Measure of the Cosmos" at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM in LIGO's auditorium.

October Sky Lights October 1, 2011, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Celebrate International Astronomy Day! Come to LIGO and view planets, stars and constellations through the telescopes of the Tri-City Astronomy Club. Learn about some of the exciting astronomy events that will occur in the sky in 2012! Dress warmly. Try the Galaxy Scavenger Hunt! All ages are welcome.

Solar System Scramble August 19, 2011, 7:30 PM - 12:00 AM Come take a look at our corner of the Milky Way. Visit LIGO on August 19 and view the Moon, several planets and nearby stars through Tri-City Astronomy Club telescopes. All ages are welcome and admissions is free. Check back to find full details for the event, including and auditorium presentation at 8:00 PM

Last Chance Star Gaze October 16, 2010, 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM Take a last good look at the night sky before winter sets in! Join LIGO and the Tri-City Astronomy Club for views of the near and far in the Milky Way, including the Moon, Jupiter and residents of your favorite constellations. Dress warmly. Try the Galaxy Scavenger Hunt! All ages are welcome.

Friday Night Sky Lights August 13, 2010, 7:30 PM - 1:30 AM With the Moon's cooperation, LIGO returns to the Perseid Meteor Shower! Visit LIGO on August 13 to inspect this year's version of the Perseids. Sample the more distant denizens of the night sky with the help of Tri-City Astronomy Club telescopes. All ages are welcome! Meteor showers are a great family activity. Bring something comfortable to help you recline and look skywards -- blankets or loungers work well.

Hida

Roy Gephart

Geminid Meteor Shower December 13, 2009, 7:00 PM - Midnight. If skies are clear on the night of Sunday, December 13, come to LIGO and enjoy one of the best meteor showers of the year. The peak of the shower occurs near 9:00 PM PST on Dec. 13, meaning that you can see some lovely meteors and still get a good night's sleep! Clear skies will mean cold weather, so dress warmly.

Search the Deep Sky August 22, 2009, 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM Get personal with the International Year of Astronomy. Join LIGO and the Tri-City Astronomy Club as you view the near and far in the night sky through hosted telescopes. Do you have a telescope at home? Bring it along and sample LIGO's dark sky. All ages are welcome!

Art Stithem

International Astronomy Day May 2, 2009, 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM Join LIGO and the Tri-City Astronomy Club for Galileo to Einstein, Jupiter to Black Holes. LIGO scientists Fred Raab and Greg Mendell will take you on a 400-year journey from Galileo's first look through a telescope to Einstein's breakthrough ideas. Then take your own look at the near and far in the night sky through hosted telescopes!

Around the World in 80 Telescopes April 3, 2009. Unlike anything we've ever done! Go on line to join a worldwide Web cast in this cornerstone event for the International Year of Astronomy. On April 3 and 4, observatories around the world will open their doors via the Internet for interactive video and chat sessions to acquaint the public with their research. LIGO will be featured at 1:00 PM PDT on April 3. [Postscript: You can view the archived LIGO 80 Telescopes Web cast here.]

Sample the Sky August 9, 2008, 7:30 PM - 1:00 AM (8/12). Join LIGO and the Tri-City Astronomy Club for a look at the variety of the night sky. See stars, planets, meteors and the moon. Bring the family for a night of astronomy enjoyment! Bring warm clothes and snacks. A pair of binoculars might prove to be helpful. TCAC telescopes will be pointing at a variety of night sky objects.

International 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.

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.

International 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

• Last modified May 10, 2012
• Saturn image courtesy of NASA/JPL
• Eclipse image courtesy of NASA/
• Venus Transit image credit: Sylvie Beland, NASA
• Black Hole image courtesy of Ute Kraus, Universität Hildesheim
• For problems or suggestions about Web material, contact webmaster@ligo-wa.caltech.edu
• For information about LIGO, contact info@ligo.caltech.edu

LIGO is supported by the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation