Midway Island Magnetic Observatory

The Midway Island Magnetic Observatory is a U.S. Geological Survey monitoring station on Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, one of a network of stations that continuously tracks Earth's magnetic field.

About Midway Island Magnetic Observatory

Operated by the USGS Geomagnetism Program, the station is one of 14 magnetic observatories in the program's network across the United States and its territories. It records continuous time-series data on Earth's magnetic field, helping scientists monitor ionospheric, magnetospheric, and solar wind phenomena.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits on Midway Atoll, a remote coral atoll in the North Pacific far from any mainland coastline. Data recorded here is transmitted back to the USGS Geomagnetism Program headquarters in Golden, Colorado, for analysis.

Visiting Midway Island Magnetic Observatory

This is a scientific monitoring station rather than a public attraction, and Midway Atoll itself has restricted access as a National Wildlife Refuge. Check current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidance before planning any visit.

See your named star from here

A magnetic observatory tracks the invisible pull of Earth's own field rather than the night sky, but the idea behind it is the same as star naming: giving a fixed, precise point real scientific meaning. If you've named a star, you can find its exact coordinates and story in your star certificate.