Eskdalemuir Magnetic Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
In the quiet hills of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, the Eskdalemuir Magnetic Observatory has been recording the Earth's magnetic field since the early twentieth century, undisturbed by the electrical noise of city life.
About Eskdalemuir Magnetic Observatory
The site sits at roughly 245 metres above sea level and forms part of the UK's national geomagnetic monitoring network, alongside stations at Lerwick and Hartland. Its instruments continuously track fluctuations in the planet's magnetic field for scientific and navigational research.
History
The observatory was built in 1904. Its remote, rural setting was chosen deliberately: London's original geomagnetic station at Kew Observatory was being disrupted by electromagnetic interference from the city's new electric tramcars, so the sensitive instruments were relocated to Eskdalemuir in 1908, with the tramway company paying £10,000 in compensation toward the move. Continuous measurements have been recorded here since May 1908.
Location & getting there
Eskdalemuir lies in a sparsely populated corner of southern Scotland, deliberately far from the electrical interference of towns and cities - the same isolation that makes the surrounding countryside good for dark night skies.
Visiting Eskdalemuir Magnetic Observatory
This is a working scientific research station rather than a public visitor attraction, so check the observatory's official website before planning a trip.
See your named star from here
Even far from a telescope, you can always look up your named star's position using the Star Register catalogue - useful if a visit to remote Eskdalemuir has you thinking about the sky above. Explore our naming packages at star-register.eu.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
