# LIGO, United States: what it is and when to go > LIGO is a gravitational wave detector in United States (Richland, Washington). Interests: Stargazing. The best time to visit is November to March. In June there are 15 h 36 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 24. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/nsf-ligo-hanford/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-08 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Gravitational wave detector · Stargazing - **Where:** United States · North Route 10 127124, 99354, Richland - **You can go:** November to March. - **Nearest airport:** SFO San Francisco, 1,014 km as the crow flies - **Website:** [ligo.caltech.edu](https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/WA) - **Run by:** California Institute of Technology;Massachusetts Institute of Technology - **Coordinates:** 46.45912, -119.42822 ## What it is and where LIGO is a gravitational wave detector in United States (Richland, Washington). Gravitational-Wave Observatory, Laser Interferometer It is in [Richland, Washington](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/richland/), where this site lists 22 more places to see, 21 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 46.45912, -119.42822; the nearest main airport is San Francisco International Airport (SFO, San Francisco), 1,014 km as the crow flies. How to get around United States (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=46.459116%2C-119.428216) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.459116%2C-119.428216) - **Run by:** California Institute of Technology;Massachusetts Institute of Technology It is one of the [Stargazing](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/estrellas/) places in United States. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go Months when you can visit LIGO: **November to March**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 8 h 47 | | February | Possible | 10 h 05 | | March | Possible | 11 h 36 | | April | Better not | 13 h 20 | | May | Better not | 14 h 48 | | June | Better not | 15 h 36 | | July | Better not | 15 h 16 | | August | Better not | 14 h | | September | Better not | 12 h 19 | | October | Better not | 10 h 38 | | November | Possible | 9 h 09 | | December | Possible | 8 h 24 | In June there are 15 h 36 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 24. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to United States in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to United States To enter United States there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Book national parks and cars in advance”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the United States checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#antes-de-salir). Currency: US dollar (USD); plugs: Type A and B · 120 V · 60 Hz (you need an adapter, and check your devices' voltage); emergencies: 911 for everything. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Rattlesnake Slope Wildlife Area](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/rattlesnake-slope-wildlife-area/): Wildlife area in Benton County, Washington, United States · 13 km - [Claar Cellars](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/claar-cellars/): Winery · 15 km - [Rattlesnake Mountain](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/rattlesnake-mountain/): Mountain in Benton County, Washington · 15 km - [Hanford Reach National Monument](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/hanford-reach-national-monument/): National monument in the United States · 16 km - [Tapteil Winery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/tapteil-winery/): Winery · 18 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the United States guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/). ## More in United States: Stargazing - [Palomar Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/palomar-observatory/): observatory in Southern California - [W. M. Keck Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/w-m-keck-observatory/): astronomical observatory located in Hawaii - [Lowell Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/lowell-observatory/): astronomical observatory - [Yerkes Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/yerkes-observatory/): astronomical observatory in Wisconsin, USA - [Very Large Array](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/karl-g-jansky-very-large-array/): radio astronomy observatory located on the Plains of San Agustin - [Griffith Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/griffith-observatory/): observatory in Los Angeles, California, USA Every United States place under Stargazing, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/estrellas/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is LIGO? It is a gravitational wave detector in United States. ### When is the best time to visit LIGO? November to March. In June there are 15 h 36 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 24. ### How do you get to LIGO? The nearest main airport is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 1,014 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.459116%2C-119.428216) opens the route on the map, and how to get around United States is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the United States map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Rattlesnake Slope Wildlife Area](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/rattlesnake-slope-wildlife-area/), [Claar Cellars](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/claar-cellars/), [Rattlesnake Mountain](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/rattlesnake-mountain/). The rest is in [the United States guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/196935204), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q255371), CC0. More about LIGO on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIGO). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).