Dourbes Magnetic Observatory

Dourbes Magnetic Observatory is a geomagnetic and space weather research station run by the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium in the country's remote south.

About Dourbes Magnetic Observatory

Established in the 1940s, with regular geomagnetic observations beginning in the early 1950s, the observatory forms part of the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI). Its location in southern Belgium, away from urban interference, was specifically chosen to support accurate measurements of the geomagnetic field, the ionosphere, and cosmic rays.

Telescopes & research

Rather than optical telescopes, Dourbes Magnetic Observatory runs a network of magnetic instruments, alongside a sister station at Manhay, recording the complete geomagnetic vector every minute. The observatory also operates a workshop that manufactures and calibrates geomagnetometers — including optically pumped and proton magnetometers, fluxgate variometers, automatic Difluxes, and North Seekers — supplying instruments to other observatories as well as its own. Its data feeds into the INTERMAGNET global network and is published online in near real time.

Location & getting there

Dourbes Magnetic Observatory is located in southern Belgium, in a quiet, rural setting chosen precisely because it sits away from the electrical and magnetic noise of towns and cities.

Visiting Dourbes Magnetic Observatory

As a working scientific facility, the observatory isn't primarily set up as a visitor attraction; anyone interested in a visit should contact the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium directly for current arrangements.

See your named star from here

Dourbes Magnetic Observatory tracks the invisible forces of Earth's magnetic field rather than the night sky, but Belgium's astronomers elsewhere still look up. A star named through Star Register comes with fixed coordinates any telescope can use. Browse the star catalogue to find one.