The World's Northernmost Aurora Observatory Opened

Monday February 18th 2008 was a historic day for The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) as The Kjell Henriksen Observatory (KHO) was officially opened.

- We have waited a long time for this day and we are immensely proud to open the world's northernmost and most modern northern lights observatory, UNIS director Gunnar Sand said

An important contributor to future research
Foto: Anita T. Munch
Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education, Ms. Tora Aasland, oficially opened the observatory in a ceremony in front of KHO, situated 500 meters above sea level on the mountain Breinosa (also known as the Mine 7 Mountain).

The minister was joined by the Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang, the family of Kjell Henriksen, and guests from institutions that over the years have worked closely with UNIS in the middle- and upper polar research field.

- The International Polar Year 2007-2008 is a huge international research effort of great importance to the northern region, as well as to global challenges. When the new observatory was planned, the goal was to have it ready for the Polar Year. I am very pleased that this goal was reached, Aasland said.

A giant step for Aurora research
The new observatory will, among other things, facilitate the collection of data which may improve scientists' understanding of the interaction between solar winds and the Earth's magnetic fields, and of the effects this may have on the climate.

Foto: Bjørn Jørgensen / NN / Samfoto


Svalbard has a unique location for research on the daytime northern light, as it is placed under the magnetic polar cusp. Studies of this phenomenon was the background for the establishment of the first northern lights observatory in 1978, where cooperation with international partners was developed. The station was moved to the Advent Valley and expanded in 1984. Over the years, light pollution from Longyearbyen, which affects the light-sensitive optical instruments, became an increasing problem.

- The opening of KHO is a giant step for Norwegian Aurora research, professor and observatory manager Fred Sigernes said. - But it is not only a giant step for Norway; we also have a strong cooperation with other countries, he added.

International research platform
In addition to UNIS, there are 16 research organizations from 7 countries that have their instruments at the observatory, among them The University of Alaska-Fairbanks, University College London and the National Institute of Polar Research of Japan. The observatory is located close to the other space research installations EISCAT, SPEAR and SOUSY.

If, with time, there is need to have more space for scientific equipment, there is already a 370 m2 platform in place for future extensions. Due to the unpredictable weather conditions 500 meters up on the mountain, the observatory has two bedrooms where scientists can sleep over if Mother Nature decides to bring on a blizzard.

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(Source: Eva Therese Jenssen/ UNIS)