Fredericksburg Magnetic Observatory

Fredericksburg Magnetic Observatory in Virginia is not a stargazing site but a geophysical monitoring station, one of the United States Geological Survey's key instruments for tracking the planet's magnetic field.

About Fredericksburg Magnetic Observatory

Operated by the USGS Geomagnetism Program, the observatory began operations on December 31, 1955 near Corbin, Virginia, moving to its current Fredericksburg location the following year. It is one of just 14 USGS geomagnetic observatories across the country.

History

Since starting operations in 1955, the site has recorded continuous data on Earth's changing magnetic field, and it historically served as the Geomagnetism Program's headquarters and training centre for geomagneticians from the US and abroad.

Telescopes & research

Rather than telescopes, the observatory uses magnetometers and related instruments, and it has also been used for magnetometer calibration, geodetic measurements, and seismic and meteorological monitoring, making it one of the world's most important sites for geomagnetic research.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the North America region of the United States.

Visiting Fredericksburg Magnetic Observatory

As a working scientific monitoring station rather than a public visitor attraction, it does not offer the kind of stargazing tours found at astronomical observatories. Check the USGS Geomagnetism Program's website for any current public information before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

Although this site studies Earth's magnetism rather than the stars, anyone in the area can still enjoy Virginia's night sky and use our catalogue to find the coordinates of a star you've named with Star Register with your own telescope or stargazing app.