China-Iceland Arctic Science Observatory

The China-Iceland Arctic Science Observatory (CIAO) is a joint research facility in Kárhóll, in northern Iceland, roughly 60 kilometres east of Akureyri.

About China-Iceland Arctic Science Observatory

CIAO is jointly operated by the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) and the Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannis), built on land leased from the Icelandic non-profit Aurora Observatory under a 99-year agreement. It occupies a 156-hectare site with a 760 square metre building spread across three levels.

History

The observatory began preliminary data collection as early as 2013 and was officially opened on 18 October 2018, formalising a collaboration dedicated to Arctic scientific research.

Telescopes & research

CIAO's research spans aurora and space weather, atmospheric science, meteorology, biology, ecology, oceanography, glaciology, geophysics and geology, making it a broad Arctic and climate change research hub. Its equipment includes six all-sky camera towers and laser/lidar instruments used to monitor the upper atmosphere and aurora activity above northern Iceland.

Location & getting there

Kárhóll's location in northern Iceland, within Star Register's Europe region, puts CIAO under some of the darkest, most aurora-active skies in Europe, ideal for studying space weather and the night sky alike.

Visiting China-Iceland Arctic Science Observatory

CIAO is primarily a scientific research facility. Anyone planning to visit the Kárhóll area should check current access details with the operating institutions or local tourism information before travelling.

See your named star from here

Under the aurora-lit skies of northern Iceland, a star named through Star Register comes with exact coordinates that make it findable with the right telescope, wherever you are. Name a star or browse the star catalogue to see what others have named.