Keetmanshoop Magnetic Observatory

Keetmanshoop Magnetic Observatory sits in the ǁKaras Region of southern Namibia, a scientific monitoring station rather than a stargazing site, dedicated to tracking Earth’s geomagnetic field around the clock.

About Keetmanshoop Magnetic Observatory

The observatory is jointly operated by South Africa’s SANSA Space Science and Germany’s GFZ research centre, a partnership in place since 2006. Sitting at an elevation of 1,065 metres, it continuously records the intensity and direction of the geomagnetic field, identified in international data networks by the IAGA code KMH.

Telescopes & research

Rather than telescopes, Keetmanshoop’s instruments are magnetometers that track secular variation in Earth’s magnetic field. It is one of four INTERMAGNET-affiliated observatories in Southern Africa, and its data contributes to research supporting the European Space Agency’s SWARM satellite mission.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located near Keetmanshoop, in the ǁKaras Region of southern Namibia, at 1,065 metres above sea level.

Visiting Keetmanshoop Magnetic Observatory

As a working scientific research station, the observatory is not set up as a public visitor attraction. Those interested in its geomagnetic research programme should contact SANSA or GFZ directly.

See your named star from here

While the observatory itself monitors Earth’s magnetic field rather than the stars, Namibia’s ǁKaras Region is famous for some of the darkest skies on the planet. If you’ve named a star with Star Register, this is a remarkable part of the world to search for it, and our star catalogue can help you find it wherever you’re viewing from.