Alice Springs Magnetic Observatory

In Alice Springs, in Australia's Northern Territory, the Alice Springs Magnetic Observatory sits at 557 metres elevation, quietly recording the Earth's magnetic field around the clock.

About Alice Springs Magnetic Observatory

This is a geomagnetic monitoring station, not an astronomical one. It's operated by Geoscience Australia as part of the country's network of magnetic observatories, which also includes sites at Kakadu, Charters Towers, Learmonth, Gnangara, Canberra, Macquarie Island, Tasmania, Casey and Mawson.

History

The site was selected in 1962, originally for seismic observation purposes, and has since developed into a geomagnetic recording station feeding data into Australia's national network.

Telescopes & research

Rather than telescopes, the observatory runs instruments that continuously record geomagnetic field data. Readings are relayed automatically by telephone and network links to Canberra, with an ANARESAT satellite link also used to bring in data from Australia's Antarctic stations.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in Alice Springs, in central Australia's Northern Territory, at 557 metres above sea level.

Visiting Alice Springs Magnetic Observatory

As a scientific monitoring station, it isn't set up as a public stargazing venue. For access or research enquiries, Geoscience Australia is the right point of contact.

See your named star from here

Central Australia's outback skies are some of the darkest around, well suited to spotting a named star even though this particular site watches the ground, not the stars. Check its coordinates in the star catalogue and look at nearby observatories for stargazing options around Alice Springs.