Orcadas Magnetic Observatory

On remote Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands, Orcadas Magnetic Observatory has quietly kept watch over Earth's magnetic field, weather, and ice for more than a century, making it the oldest Antarctic research station still in operation.

About Orcadas Magnetic Observatory

Orcadas Magnetic Observatory is part of Base Orcadas, located on Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands, Argentina, at just 4 metres above sea level. Its main structure, Moneta House, was built in 1905 and remains protected as a historic site.

History

The station was founded in 1903 to 1904 by the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition and transferred to Argentina in 1904 by expedition leader W. S. Bruce. It has operated continuously ever since, making it the oldest Antarctic research station still in operation.

Telescopes & research

The observatory has recorded geomagnetic observations since 1903, alongside continental glaciology, seismology, sea-ice-zone glaciology since 1985, and meteorological monitoring. A major upgrade in January 2012 installed new absolute magnetometers and fluxgate variometers under the INTERMAGNET Digital Geomagnetic Observatory (INDIGO) programme, a collaboration between Argentina's National Weather Service, the British Geological Survey, and Belgium's Institut Royal Météorologique. The station today comprises 11 buildings.

Location & getting there

Base Orcadas sits on Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands, one of the most remote and difficult-to-reach research outposts in the world, accessible only by specialised Antarctic logistics.

Visiting Orcadas Magnetic Observatory

As an active Antarctic research station, Orcadas is not open to casual tourism. Access is limited to scientific and logistics personnel; check with Argentina's Antarctic programme for any official visiting arrangements.

See your named star from here

A station built to measure Earth's magnetic field with precision is a reminder of how exact coordinates, like those of a named star, describe our place in the universe. Name a star with Star Register or browse the star catalogue to find its position.