HIPAS Observatory

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The HIPAS (HIgh Power Auroral Stimulation) Observatory is an ionospheric heater, which can radiate 70 MW ERP at either 2.85 MHz or 4.53 MHz. located 30 miles Northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, in the small community of Two Rivers. It is located at: 64° 52’ 19" N latitude and 146° 50’ 33" W longitude and operates year-round. The HIPAS Observatory is operated by the UCLA plasma physics laboratory.

The HIPAS facility is engaged in the study of the ionosphere through the use of high power radio transmission as well as a LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging ) instrument. The facility is home to several projects with some interesting equipment, including:

• A plasma torch, used for experiments in hazardous waste disposal
• A 2.8 meter liquid mirror telescope, which uses a spinning bowl of mercury to form the mirror, used for laser experiments.
• An array of antennae which are used for heating the ionosphere, and which can create artificial Aurora.

Some of the research conducted at HIPAS is similar to the controversial HAARP project, and so the staff of the facility sometimes have to answer the same questions from the public.

[edit] See also

• Other Alaskan astronomical research stations: HAARP-High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program, Poker Flat Research Range

[edit] External links

• UCLA HIPAS Observatory
• UCLA Department of Physics & Astronomy