Kakadu Magnetic Observatory

Kakadu Magnetic Observatory is a geomagnetic monitoring station in the Northern Territory, Australia, operated as part of the country's national network for tracking Earth's magnetic field.

About Kakadu Magnetic Observatory

Unlike a typical astronomical observatory, Kakadu Magnetic Observatory is dedicated to geomagnetism: it is run by Geoscience Australia and continuously records the strength and direction of Earth's magnetic field. The station measures hourly mean values across the X, Y, Z and F components used by geophysicists worldwide.

Telescopes & research

Rather than telescopes, the facility relies on magnetometers and absolute observation instruments to measure the strength and orientation of the local magnetic field. It contributes its data to Australia's national geomagnetic observatory network and to the wider international network used for navigation, space weather monitoring, and geophysical research, feeding into models that track how Earth's magnetic field shifts over time.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in the Northern Territory, in Australia's tropical north, at approximately 12.69°S, 132.47°E, within the broader Kakadu region known for its remote, largely undeveloped landscape.

Visiting Kakadu Magnetic Observatory

As a scientific monitoring station rather than a public attraction, Kakadu Magnetic Observatory is not generally set up for visitor tours. Anyone interested in its data can consult Geoscience Australia's public geomagnetism resources online, including real-time magnetogram readings.

See your named star from here

Kakadu Magnetic Observatory itself watches the Earth rather than the sky, but the Northern Territory's dark, remote skies are still a superb place to look up. Wherever you do point a telescope, the coordinates of a star named through Star Register will guide you to it — browse our naming packages or search the star catalogue.