Tristan da Cunha Magnetic Observatory

Tristan da Cunha Magnetic Observatory is a remote geomagnetic monitoring station on one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world.

About Tristan da Cunha Magnetic Observatory

Established in October 2009, the observatory is operated by DTU Space, Denmark, and carries the IAGA code TDC. It sits at an elevation of about 42 metres and was set up specifically to fill a major gap in the global geomagnetic observatory network, since Tristan da Cunha lies within the South Atlantic Anomaly, a region where Earth's magnetic field is unusually weak.

Telescopes & research

Its scientific focus includes the planet's main magnetic field within the South Atlantic Anomaly, ionospheric currents, induction effects and the magnetospheric ring current. Data from the station is used alongside the European Space Agency's Swarm satellite mission to improve modelling of the anomaly, and it helps monitor Earth's magnetic field for research into the core dynamo and space weather. The island also hosts three International Monitoring System stations operated by the CTBTO.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located on Tristan da Cunha, a remote British island territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, many days by sea from the nearest mainland.

Visiting Tristan da Cunha Magnetic Observatory

Given its remote location and scientific purpose, this is not a tourist-facing site; anyone with a research interest should contact DTU Space directly for current information.

See your named star from here

Few places on Earth are farther from anything else, yet the night sky above Tristan da Cunha holds the same fixed coordinates as any named star elsewhere. Explore the star catalogue to see how that works.