Prior to the purchase of Alaska by the United States, the Russians operated a meteorological and magnetic observatory at Sitka from 1842 to 1867. The Geomagnetism Program established an observatory at Sitka, near the historic Russian cemetery, in 1901, when the Program was part of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and under the leadership of Drs Louis A. Bauer and John A. Fleming. The present observatory site was established in 1940. The observatory is operated in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
![Sitka Magnetic Observatory sign.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/sitka_sign.jpg?itok=jQW6M8b3)
Station Id: SIT
Location: Sitka, AK
Latitude: 57.0576°N
Longitude: 135.3273°W
Geomagnetic Latitude: 60.20°N*
Geomagnetic Longitude: 282.32°E*
Elevation: 24 meters
Orientation: HDZF
* IGRF values as of 2015.
For More Information:
Other Operations:
- A seismometer for the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) of NOAA.
- US Climate Reference Network (USCRN)
- BLM Alaska lightning detection system
Photos:
![Absolutes and variations buildings at Sitka, AK magnetic observatory.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/Sitka_third_size.jpg?itok=h0GxX2UX)
![Electronics building at Sitka magnetic observatory Alaska.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/SIT_electronics.jpg?itok=FX90c4Ck)
![Sitka, AK, with mountain view just behind a lake in the area. A town sitting on the lakes edge.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/Sitka_AK_third_size.jpg?itok=UaGRYC2e)
![Observer's Residence and Office Building.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/sitka_res.jpg?itok=F0NjJSFq)
![Magnetic Observations being made by F. P. Ulrich at Sitka in 1929.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/Sitka_obs50p.jpg?itok=zYFpw_1A)
Prior to the purchase of Alaska by the United States, the Russians operated a meteorological and magnetic observatory at Sitka from 1842 to 1867. The Geomagnetism Program established an observatory at Sitka, near the historic Russian cemetery, in 1901, when the Program was part of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and under the leadership of Drs Louis A. Bauer and John A. Fleming. The present observatory site was established in 1940. The observatory is operated in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
![Sitka Magnetic Observatory sign.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/sitka_sign.jpg?itok=jQW6M8b3)
Station Id: SIT
Location: Sitka, AK
Latitude: 57.0576°N
Longitude: 135.3273°W
Geomagnetic Latitude: 60.20°N*
Geomagnetic Longitude: 282.32°E*
Elevation: 24 meters
Orientation: HDZF
* IGRF values as of 2015.
For More Information:
Other Operations:
- A seismometer for the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) of NOAA.
- US Climate Reference Network (USCRN)
- BLM Alaska lightning detection system
Photos:
![Absolutes and variations buildings at Sitka, AK magnetic observatory.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/Sitka_third_size.jpg?itok=h0GxX2UX)
![Electronics building at Sitka magnetic observatory Alaska.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/SIT_electronics.jpg?itok=FX90c4Ck)
![Sitka, AK, with mountain view just behind a lake in the area. A town sitting on the lakes edge.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/Sitka_AK_third_size.jpg?itok=UaGRYC2e)
![Observer's Residence and Office Building.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/sitka_res.jpg?itok=F0NjJSFq)
![Magnetic Observations being made by F. P. Ulrich at Sitka in 1929.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/Sitka_obs50p.jpg?itok=zYFpw_1A)