Science Saturday Information

LIGO's Science Saturday includes time inside the LIGO Science Education Center (LExC) exploring interactive museum-quality exhibits, a talk with a staff member and a walking tour. Multiple tour times are available for your convenience, please choose the time slot that works best for you when reserving your ticket.

In May we are reintroducing themes for our Lobby activities. May's theme explores the science of things that swing, including the Randomly Oscillating Magnetic Pendulum, coupled pendulums, swinging resonating rods and more.

Important things to note:

Time listed is now the time of your TOUR. You can enter between anytime between 10 AM and 4 PM. If you do not want a tour, and just want to visit the Science Education Center exhibit hall, we now have tickets specifically for that.

Open from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Typically people spend an hour and a half at LIGO.

The site walking tour will take place shortly after your ticket time (10 minutes), if you'd like to take the tour make sure that you are at tour location then (signage will be up indicating where to be).

Masking may be required on the day of your tour. If masks are required, they should be of surgical grade or better, and will be provided by LIGO the day of the tour.

Visitors do not require any special badging to visit LIGO.

Photographs are welcome on site. However, we kindly request that you do not record/video staff members without their permission.

LIGO's Science Saturday experience is suitable for all ages, although younger audiences may find the walking tour less interesting.

LIGO’s facilities are wheelchair accessible, though you will encounter a steep slope during the site tour itself (this part of the tour can be avoided).

The walking tour and talk lasts about 45 minutes. Guests should dress for the season and wear comfortable walking shoes.

What will I see?

During your visit you will have a chance to explore many interactive exhibits housed in LIGO's Science Education Center (LIGO SEC). You will also visit be able to see artifacts from the detector as well as a view of the interferometer's 4km-long arms reaching into the loblolly pine forest. Questions are particularly welcome on the tour.

All LIGO visitors over the age of 18 will be required to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination (physical card or photo of card), with an option to upload the vaccination proof in advance. We define "fully vaccinated" as at least two shots of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, OR one shot of Johnson & Johnson.

Swing into Science Saturday