Nurmijarvi Magnetic Observatory

Nurmijärvi Magnetic Observatory is a geophysical research station on the shore of Lake Sääksjärvi, about 40 km north of Helsinki, Finland.

About Nurmijärvi Magnetic Observatory

Operated by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the observatory measures both slow changes in Earth's magnetic field driven by currents in the planet's outer core and rapid variations caused by space weather and auroral activity.

History

The observatory was founded in the early 1950s and has operated continuously since, becoming an accredited magnetometer calibration facility under FINAS in August 2007.

Instruments & research

The site runs two fluxgate magnetometers alongside absolute measurement equipment, including a non-magnetic theodolite and a proton magnetometer, plus a MILOS automated weather station and radioactivity monitoring. It participates in the IMAGE network of more than 30 stations across northern Europe and in INTERMAGNET, the global network for geomagnetic data.

Location & getting there

Nurmijärvi lies roughly 40 km north of Helsinki, on the shore of Lake Sääksjärvi in southern Finland, making it a manageable day trip from the capital.

Visiting Nurmijärvi Magnetic Observatory

As an operational scientific station, the observatory is not set up as a public attraction. Anyone interested in visiting should contact the Finnish Meteorological Institute in advance.

See your named star from here

Southern Finland's long, dark winter nights are ideal for stargazing, even if this particular station keeps watch on the magnetic field rather than the stars. If you've named a star through Star Register, find its coordinates in our star catalogue and look for it overhead.