Open Day at GEO600

The first direct observation of gravitational waves in September 2015 opened a new door to a previously hidden side of our Universe. Since then, a total of more than 90 gravitational-wave signals from merging pairs of black holes and neutron stars have been observed. A new era of astronomy has begun. In the current, fourth joint observation run “O4”, the gravitational-wave detectors have been detecting a new signal from the depths of space every two to three days since the end of May 2023.

GEO600 is instrumental in this effort as it develops and tests new technologies for gravitational-wave detection. These are critical to the sensitivity of the Virgo detector in Italy and the LIGO detectors in the US. The Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017 and other major science prizes were awarded to the international research community that operates these detectors, continually improves them and analyzes their data.

At the Open Day, guests will receive first-hand information about basic research and daily work at the GEO600 gravitational-wave detector. Guided tours of the detector site with views into the heart of the highly sensitive measurement facility will be conducted as needed.