Resolute Bay Magnetic Observatory

Resolute Bay Magnetic Observatory stands on Cornwallis Island in Canada's far north, one of the world's longest-running stations for tracking the planet's shifting magnetic field near the North Magnetic Pole.

About Resolute Bay Magnetic Observatory

The observatory is operated by the Geological Survey of Canada and specialises in geomagnetic rather than optical astronomy, continuously recording variations in Earth's magnetic field. It sits about 30 metres above sea level and roughly 450 metres from the shore.

History

The station was founded in 1948. Photographic variometers were installed in November 1953 to record magnetic variations, and digital recording began in July 1973 with the AMOS Mk I system. A modern CANMOS recording system was installed in January 1992, keeping the observatory at the forefront of magnetic monitoring technology.

Location & getting there

Resolute Bay sits on Cornwallis Island in Nunavut, deep in the Canadian Arctic, making it one of the most remote scientific stations in North America.

Visiting Resolute Bay Magnetic Observatory

As a working scientific monitoring station in a remote Arctic location, it is not set up for casual public tours; anyone interested in visiting the area should check with local operators before travelling.

See your named star from here

While this station watches Earth's own magnetic field rather than the night sky, anyone who has named a star can still find its coordinates and viewing details from anywhere on Earth in our star catalogue.