Zhaoqing Magnetic Observatory

Zhaoqing Magnetic Observatory is a geomagnetic observatory located in Guangdong Province, in southern China.

About Zhaoqing Magnetic Observatory

Unlike a typical astronomical observatory, Zhaoqing Magnetic Observatory is a geomagnetic monitoring station. It records the Earth's magnetic field, with observations used in research on geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) that can affect electrical power grids, sampling the magnetic field at one-second intervals over hour-long periods.

Telescopes & research

Rather than optical telescopes, the site's instruments are magnetometers used for continuous geomagnetic monitoring. Data from Zhaoqing has been used in published space-weather research examining how geomagnetic disturbances propagate through regional power infrastructure.

Location & getting there

The observatory is situated in Guangdong Province, in China's Asia region. As a scientific monitoring station rather than a public visitor attraction, it is not generally set up for tourist visits.

See your named star from here

Guangdong's night sky, like any location on Earth, gives access to the same set of coordinates that map a named star. Even at a site built for geomagnetic research rather than stargazing, the principle holds: a telescope aimed at the right right ascension and declination can find any star in our catalogue.