Port Alfred Magnetic Observatory
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
The Port Alfred Magnetic Observatory is located on Île de la Possession (Possession Island) in the remote Crozet Archipelago, part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
About Port Alfred Magnetic Observatory
The station sits within the Alfred Faure permanent French scientific research base. As a magnetic observatory, its role is to monitor Earth's geomagnetic field rather than to observe the night sky, and it is not a public stargazing site.
Location & getting there
Île de la Possession lies in the southern Indian Ocean, one of the most isolated inhabited outposts on Earth, reachable only via French research and supply vessels. It falls within the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
Visiting Port Alfred Magnetic Observatory
This is a scientific research station in a restricted, remote territory and is not open to public visitors.
See your named star from here
Because this facility monitors Earth's magnetic field rather than hosting telescopes, it isn't a place to view a named star directly. Instead, use your star's coordinates with any stargazing app or a partner observatory - see our naming packages or browse the catalogue.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
