Dome C Magnetic Observatory

Dome C Magnetic Observatory is a geomagnetic monitoring station at Concordia Station on the Antarctic plateau, one of the most remote scientific outposts on Earth.

About Dome C Magnetic Observatory

Sited at Dome C, Antarctica (75°06'S, 123°21'E), at an elevation of roughly 3,200 metres, the observatory is part of the INTERMAGNET global network of geomagnetic stations. It records the complete geomagnetic vector — declination, inclination, and field strength — every minute, tracking how Earth's magnetic field changes over time.

Telescopes & research

Rather than optical telescopes, Dome C Magnetic Observatory's instruments measure Earth's magnetic field. Its location is scientifically valuable because the ice sheet beneath it, roughly three kilometres thick, minimises interference from the rock and mineral deposits that can distort readings elsewhere, and its inland position avoids the magnetic noise associated with coastlines. The station has been in continuous operation for several years, with published research describing its data through at least 2015.

Location & getting there

Dome C sits deep in the Antarctic interior at Concordia Station, a joint French-Italian research base reachable only by specialist polar logistics — not a destination for casual visitors. It is one of the highest, coldest, and most isolated inhabited research sites on the continent.

Visiting Dome C Magnetic Observatory

Concordia Station is a working scientific base with no general public access; anyone travelling there does so as part of an approved research programme, arranged well in advance through the station's operating agencies.

See your named star from here

Dome C's instruments watch the planet rather than the stars, but Antarctica's polar night still offers extraordinarily dark, clear skies. A star named through Star Register comes with fixed coordinates that work anywhere on Earth — including under polar skies. Browse the star catalogue to find one worth looking for.