HIPAS Observatory
Encyclopedia
The HIPAS Observatory is an ionospheric heater
Ionospheric heater
An ionospheric heater is an array of antennas which are used for heating the ionosphere, and which can create artificial aurora.- Current facilities :...

, which can radiate 70 MW ERP at either 2.85 MHz or 4.53 MHz. located 30 miles Northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...

, in the small community of Two Rivers
Two Rivers, Alaska
Two Rivers is an unincorporated area of homes between mile 13 and mile 25 along the Chena Hot Springs Road, northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska...

. 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
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...

 through the use of high power radio transmission as well as a LIDAR
LIDAR
LIDAR is an optical remote sensing technology that can measure the distance to, or other properties of a target by illuminating the target with light, often using pulses from a laser...

 (LIght Detection And Ranging ) instrument. The facility is home to several projects with some interesting equipment, including:
  • A plasma
    Plasma (physics)
    In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...

     torch
    Plasma torch
    A plasma torch is a device for generating a directed flow of plasma. The plasma jet can be used for applications including plasma cutting, plasma spraying, and plasma arc waste disposal....

    , used for experiments in hazardous waste
    Hazardous waste
    A hazardous waste is waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment. According to the U.S. environmental laws hazardous wastes fall into two major categories: characteristic wastes and listed wastes.Characteristic hazardous wastes are materials that are known...

     disposal
  • A 2.8 meter liquid mirror telescope
    Telescope
    A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...

    , which uses a spinning bowl of mercury
    Mercury (element)
    Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...

     to form the mirror, used for laser
    Laser
    A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...

     experiments.
  • An array of antennae which are used for heating the ionosphere.


Some of the research conducted at HIPAS is similar to the controversial HAARP
High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program
The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program is an ionospheric research program jointly funded by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the University of Alaska, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ....

 project, and so the staff of the facility sometimes have to answer the same questions from the public. The facility has been shut down and much of the equipment sold off as surplus during the Spring of 2010.

See also

  • Other Alaskan astronomical research stations: HAARP
    High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program
    The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program is an ionospheric research program jointly funded by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the University of Alaska, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ....

    , Poker Flat Research Range
    Poker Flat Research Range
    The Poker Flat Research Range is a launch facility and rocket range for sounding rockets in the U.S. state of Alaska, owned and operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute since 1968...


External links

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