Skibotn Observatory

Some two hours drive east of Tromsø, Skibotn observatory is located. Skibotn is one of the driest locations in all of Northern Fennoscandia and therefore an excellent location for optical studies of atmospheric and astronomical phenomena. The Auroral Observatory and later University of Tromsø have since the 60’s made observations from Skibotn. On the picture we see the Astronomical Observatory which was built as a training and research facility for star photometry. The observatory dome houses 50 cm reflector, which is one of the largerst telescopes in Norway. Since astronomy and astrophysics is not part of the activity at University of Tromsø anymore, the facility is used and preserved by the Tromsø Amateur Astronomy Club.

Tromsø Geophysical Observatory also have a small presence nearby, operating a 32 MHz riometer. Plans exist to expand this to also include a 40 MHz riometer and a colour all-sky camera meant to assist Aurora watchers. Soon, also, there will be installed a science grade all-sky imager from the University of Oslo, perhaps ALIS will re-establish a camera there and PGI will put up a VLF receiver.

The location is also great for campaign based observations, as Dr. Jean Lilensten from Institut de Planétologie et d’Astrophysique de Grenoble experienced when he ran a week of polarization observations there last January.

Speaking of riometers. Just an hour drive away, right across the boarder to Finland, the excellent facility of KAIRA is located. KAIRA stands for Kilpisjärvi Atmospheric Receiver Array and is operated by Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory. A lot of interesting science is performed with KAIRA which is highly relevant for space weather. They also have a blogg worth reading here.