Fresno Magnetic Observatory

On the USFS San Joaquin Experimental Range near O'Neals, California, Fresno Magnetic Observatory is a geophysical monitoring station rather than a stargazing site, dedicated to tracking Earth's magnetic field.

About Fresno Magnetic Observatory

Established in 1980 by the USGS Geomagnetism Program, the station carries the identifier FRN and records horizontal, declination, vertical and total field (HDZF) measurements around the clock.

History

Since it began operating in 1980, the observatory has recorded data at increasing resolution: one-minute intervals initially, moving to one-second resolution from June 2011 onward, and its records are archived with the international INTERMAGNET network.

Telescopes & research

Rather than telescopes, the site uses magnetometers to continuously measure Earth's magnetic field, contributing to global geomagnetic monitoring and research into space weather and the planet's core.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits at 331 metres elevation on the San Joaquin Experimental Range near O'Neals, California, in the North America region.

Visiting Fresno Magnetic Observatory

As a working scientific monitoring station, it does not run public stargazing tours. Check the USGS Geomagnetism Program's website for any public information before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

Though this observatory watches the planet's magnetic field rather than the stars, the clear California night sky above it is still there to enjoy, and you can use our catalogue to find the coordinates of a star you've named with Star Register with your own telescope.