2025 HAARP Open House Announced

6/13/25 update:

Want a preview of activities and lectures offered at the Saturday, June 14 UAF HAARP Open House? Download the open house activity guide and event map. Activities include science lectures, portable planetarium shows, visiting the antenna array, and tours of the Operations Building and additional site instruments.

The Geophysical Institute will run six 45-minute portable planetarium shows, starting at: 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:45 PM, 1:45 PM, 2:45 PM. These are limited seating, first-come first-served. Visit the converted dome in the Tri-Bay Garage.

Lecture Schedule: Each lecture is 55 minutes and runs twice during the day. Seating is first-come, first-seated in the Operations Building classroom.

• 9:30-10:25 AM: HAARP Science

• 10:30-11:25 AM: Aurora

• 11:30 AM-12:25 PM: LIDAR

• 12:30 PM-1:25 PM: HAARP Science

• 1:30-2:25 PM: Aurora

• 2:30-3:15 PM: LIDAR

All activities conclude by 3:15 PM and guests must depart the site by 3:30 PM. We look forward to seeing you at HAARP!

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This Father's Day weekend, the University of Alaska Fairbanks invites you and your families to join the 2025 HAARP Open House in Gakona, Alaska on Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This event provides an opportunity for the public to experience this world-class research facility firsthand, learn about the scientific questions the facility seeks to answer, and talk directly with researchers.

Read more about the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) and join the open house Facebook event.

No tickets are required, but visitors are encouraged to RSVP to reserve their time slot to enter the array — and for the chance to win prizes.

• Explore the site on a self-guided tour, about 90 minutes
• See HAARP’s control room, power plant, antenna array and more!
• Experience a show in the Geophysical Institute's portable planetarium
• Hear science talks about aurora, LIDAR & HAARP science
• Area 49 merchandise will be for sale, cash or credit card.

Local partner Wrangell Institute for Science & Environment (WISE) will join UAF for the event. Ernesto’s Grill will be selling food at the facility.

Guidelines for the event:

• Please follow all posted signs and staff instructions while onsite for your safety and to protect sensitive research equipment.
• Pets are welcome but must be leashed and will not be allowed in UAF buildings or in the antenna array. Please pick up after your pet.
• Parking is limited. Vehicles are restricted to a maximum length of 36 feet, maximum width of 9 feet and maximum height of 10 feet.
• Drone use: Unauthorized UAS operations over HAARP lands compromise the safety and integrity of ongoing research, pose risks of physical damage, may cause electromagnetic interference, and infringe upon personal privacy. Unauthorized UAS flights are strictly prohibited and may result in enforcement actions, including fines and legal consequences. If you're interested in drone footage, contact the Geophysical Institute at [email protected].
• Visitors are encouraged to bring water, wear sturdy shoes for the tour, and prepare for variable weather.

Please contact [email protected] before the event for any accommodations requests or assistance.

Array entry:

• Entry into the array and diagnostic instruments will be done in timed groups. No entry to the array after 3 p.m. Please keep in mind that the later you show up, the less you'll be able to see.
• Parking at the array is limited. You may or may not be able to drive your car to the array. However, visitors can access via a one-mile walk or a short shuttle ride.

HAARP is located in Gakona at mile 11.3 Tok Cutoff, 26 miles northeast of Glennallen. It is about 200 miles from Anchorage and 230 miles from Fairbanks.

If you’re a member of the press, contact Geophysical Institute public information officer Rod Boyce at [email protected] for more information about HAARP and the open house.

Download the event flyer.