Organization

Observatories

Kagoshima Observatory

Kagoshima Observatory is located in southern Kyushu, near Sakurajima volcano. Routine observations for the study of Earth's ionospheric, upper atmospheric, and electromagnetic environment are being carried out by using ELF/VLF receivers, magnetometers, and all-sky cameras in collaboration with other universities.

Kagoshima Observatory near Sakurajima volcano.

ELF/VLF antennas and geomagnetic observation hut.

ELF/VLF antennas and geomagnetic observation hut.

All-sky CCD camera (lower right), fish-eye lens (upper right) for the camera, and observation hut (left). The camera can automatically observe nightglow from various atoms and molecules at altitudes 80-100 km and 200-300 km in the upper atmosphere.

All-sky CCD camera (lower right), fish-eye lens (upper right) for the camera, and observation hut (left). The camera can automatically observe nightglow from various atoms and molecules at altitudes 80-100 km and 200-300 km in the upper atmosphere.

Wavy structures with scales of 15-20 km at altitude 95 km, as detected with a 557.7 nm all-sky camera at Sata.

Wavy structures with scales of 15-20 km at altitude 95 km, as detected with a 557.7 nm all-sky camera at Sata.

Giant plasma bubbles (dark regions) in the ionosphere observed simultaneously with 630 nm all-sky cameras at Sata (Kagoshima prefecture) and Darwin (Australian geomagnetic conjugate point of Sata). The apex altitude of the bubbles is about 1700 km over the geomagnetic equator.

Giant plasma bubbles (dark regions) in the ionosphere observed simultaneously with 630 nm all-sky cameras at Sata (Kagoshima prefecture) and Darwin (Australian geomagnetic conjugate point of Sata). The apex altitude of the bubbles is about 1700 km over the geomagnetic equator.