"Astronomy's New Messengers: Listening to the Universe with Gravitational Waves" is an interactive educational experience. More...

The objectives of Astronomy's New Messengers is to increase interest in, and understanding of, astronomy and the science of gravitational waves. The broad vision of this outreach project is to create a new culture blending art and science. The LIGO scientific endeavor is motivated by the same desire for exploration, the curiosity for the unknown and the awe of nature which motivated humankind throughout millennia of history. In this respect, science and art are two facets of the same human quest for beauty and truth. Thus Astronomy's New Messengers is not only science: It is art also. Thanks to the creativity of Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership and Leni Schwendinger Light Projects, the wonderment in our universe and the scientific ideas behind the science of LIGO are artistically re-interpreted through an innovative design.

To begin to grasp LIGO science, a few key building block concepts are necessary. Among these are understandings of gravity and waves that could easily challenge peoples common notions. Awareness of space-time, matters of scale and astronomical distances are also necessary concepts whose abstract qualities can be difficult to wrestle with at first. And of course, a definition of a gravitational wave is a critical understanding to acquire, as well as a sense of why certain gravitational waves are more pronounced than others. Learn more about LIGO...