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:

Aug 26, 2021What are these creatures?
Feb 6, 2024Bonsai Rock, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Jul 3, 2024World Meerkat Day
May 22, 2025International Day for Biological Diversity
Dec 7, 2022National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Apr 28, 2025Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Dec 1, 2018A treaty for science
May 20, 2025World Bee Day
Apr 2, 2018Seven Magic Mountains art installation, Jean Dry Lake, Nevada
Jun 27, 2019The roots of invention
Mar 17, 2018Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Aug 6, 2019Storks ready for takeoff
Oct 20, 2020Reflecting on fall
Jan 23, 2025Sundance Film Festival
Jan 16, 2024Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta
Apr 23, 2023World Book Day
May 24, 2025European Day of Parks
Jan 14, 2023Feast of the Donkey
Nov 17, 2022National Take a Hike Day
Jul 24, 2020Trunks stick together
Dec 29, 2021Mountain goats
Feb 12, 2019To Roswell, and beyond!
Aug 10, 2018Assembling the Smithsonian
Oct 30, 2022Polar Bear Week
Sep 13, 2019The moon rises for Mid-Autumn Festival
Jul 21, 2023Storseisundet Bridge, Norway
Jul 8, 2020It s only Wednesday
Jan 22, 2025Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
Oct 18, 2021A Welsh wonder turns 70
Sep 20, 2024Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina