Kjell Henriksen Observatory Dec 28, 2021

Kjell Henriksen Observatory

While these domes look like they should be in a movie set depicting a galaxy far, far away, they"re actually part of a scientific research station here on planet Earth. Kjell Henriksen Observatory is named for a Norwegian scientist whose research focused on the polar lights. The aurora borealis is frequently seen here, deep within the Arctic Circle in Norway"s remote Svalbard territory. And the observatory is specially designed to observe the aurora. Since it opened in 2008, the observatory has become a destination for atmospheric scientists, who can rent one of these 30 glass-topped rooms built to house high-end optical instruments.

© Vincent Fournier/Gallery Stock

palette

Today in History

Dec 28, 2018A species no longer at risk
Dec 28, 2019Did they forget to fly south?
Dec 28, 2020Wildcat in a winter wonderland
Dec 28, 2022Maloja, Switzerland
Dec 28, 202350 years of the Endangered Species Act
Dec 28, 2024Endangered Species Act

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Oct 30, 2023Common raven
May 11, 2022Santorini, Greece
Dec 22, 2018Night of the ‘Cold Moon’
Mar 22, 2020Celebrating World Water Day
Mar 23, 2025World Meteorological Day
Mar 3, 2019Fin whales: A success story
Dec 4, 2021Cheetah mother and cub
Jun 7, 2018Humpbacks return to the Inside Passage
Jan 8, 2020Take the stairs
Apr 18, 2019Stop and see the flowers
Jul 31, 2022Noctilucent clouds
Nov 1, 2018Celebrating the Day of the Dead
Apr 8, 2020Santorini through the clouds
Mar 9, 2024Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico
Oct 13, 2020Where can you find a red fox?
Jul 21, 2025Coral Reef Awareness Week
Mar 27, 2024World Theater Day
Oct 25, 2023Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
Aug 16, 2023Overseas Highway, Florida Keys
Jul 20, 2022National Moon Day
Apr 6, 2021On the rebirth of the Olympic Games
Jun 10, 2018Travel Sunday: Sintra, Portugal
Feb 13, 2019Life goes on at the Beatles Ashram
Jul 18, 2020The moth wonderful time of the year
Mar 1, 2022Women s History Month
Nov 3, 2024International Day for Biosphere Reserves
Nov 22, 2018Tom Turkey takes Manhattan
Mar 8, 2024International Womens Day
Jun 5, 2024World Environment Day
Sep 17, 2025A young bull moose in Denali National Park, Alaska