European Gravitational Observatory, Research observatory in Cascina, Italy
The European Gravitational Observatory in Cascina is home to the Virgo detector, a massive instrument buried in underground tunnels that searches for tiny vibrations in space caused by distant cosmic events. Its three-kilometer-long arms measure the smallest possible changes to capture signals from collapsing stars and black holes.
The facility was established in late 2000 as a partnership between French and Italian research institutions dedicated to studying gravitational phenomena. It has since become one of the world's leading centers for detecting and analyzing gravitational waves from cosmic sources.
The observatory maintains partnerships with international research institutions, contributing to worldwide advancements in understanding gravitational waves and celestial phenomena.
The facility is primarily used by scientists and research teams and is not directly accessible to casual visitors without special arrangements. Those interested can inquire about guided tours in advance to learn about the scientific work conducted on-site.
The Virgo detector uses interferometry to measure length differences smaller than a proton's width. This extreme sensitivity allows the facility to detect events happening billions of light-years away.
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