Where is the LIGO gravitational-wave observatory in the United States?
Quick Answer
LIGO has two detector sites: one in Hanford, Washington, and one in Livingston, Louisiana. Together they measure tiny spacetime ripples from violent cosmic events.
The Full Story
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO, operates two major facilities in the United States: one near Hanford in Washington state and one near Livingston in Louisiana. The twin sites are separated by about 3,000 kilometers, which helps scientists confirm that a signal is truly astrophysical and not a local disturbance. LIGO made history in September 2015 by making the first direct detection of gravitational waves, from a black-hole merger. That result was announced in February 2016 and earned the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Key Facts
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