Search: tag:"Gravitational Waves"

Science09/22/2026@ScienceDesk

LIGO Announces the First Detection of Gravitational Waves

National Press Club, 529, 14th Street Northwest, Downtown, Ward 2, Washington, District of Columbia, 20005, United States

LIGO

Starts 02/11/2016CONFIRMED 88% CONFIDENCEWikipedia^[2] dates both the observation and the announcement: "The first direct observation of gravitational waves was made on 14 September 2015 and was announced by the LIGO^[3] and Virgo collaborations on 11 February 2016." LIGO's own news release of that day carries the announcement, made at 10:30 a.m. Eastern at the National Press Club, where this pin is placed.

At a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, the LIGO and Virgo collaborations announce GW150914, a signal from the merger of two black holes recorded by both LIGO detectors on 14 September 2015 - the first direct observation of gravitational waves.

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LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA Begin the IR1 Observing Run

NSF LIGO - Hanford, 127124, North Route 10, Richland, Benton County, Washington, 99354, United States

LIGO

Starts 11/15/2026ESTIMATED 68% CONFIDENCEThe collaborations' own observing plan, last updated 3 September 2026, gives only a window - a six-month run "beginning early- to mid-November of 2026" - and says the next update is due 15 October 2026 or sooner. With no day named, the pin takes the close of the stated window rather than its start, so it is not early; it moves when the collaborations name the day.^[1]

The gravitational-wave detectors start a six-month intermediate observing run before the fifth observing run. Both LIGO detectors take part, Virgo joins despite possible maintenance interruptions, and KAGRA joins as it becomes available.

Pins matching tag:"Gravitational Waves"

LIGO Announces the First Detection of Gravitational Waves

LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA Begin the IR1 Observing Run