Dumont d'Urville Magnetic Observatory

On Petrels Island in the Pointée Géologie archipelago, Terre Adélie, the Dumont d'Urville Magnetic Observatory keeps a continuous watch on Earth's magnetic field from one of the most remote corners of Antarctica.

About Dumont d'Urville Magnetic Observatory

The observatory is made up of three huts located several hundred metres from the residential quarters of the Dumont d'Urville research station, and it monitors magnetic and solar phenomena in the upper atmosphere.

History

It was established in 1956 at the permanent Dumont d'Urville base, after the earlier Port Martin base (1950–1952) was destroyed by fire.

Telescopes & research

Instruments on site include a Declination-Inclination magnetometer (D-I MAG 93), a proton Overhauser magnetometer (SM90R), and a Zeiss 010B non-magnetic theodolite. Absolute measurements are taken every three days, with total field measurements recorded every minute. The station underwent a modernisation in 2009 with new 1Hz acquisition systems (M.A.R.Cell 1.0).

Location & getting there

The observatory sits at 66.67° S, 140.01° E on Petrels Island, part of the Dumont d'Urville research station in Antarctica — accessible only via scientific and logistics vessels or aircraft.

Visiting Dumont d'Urville Magnetic Observatory

This is an active scientific research site with no public access; visits are restricted to authorised polar research personnel.

See your named star from here

Antarctica's polar skies are among the darkest and clearest on Earth, though this particular station is dedicated to magnetism rather than stargazing. Wherever your travels take you, a named star's coordinates from star-register can guide you to it under any dark sky — start at /#packages or explore the star catalogue.