Magnetometry 101

  • Released Friday, November 19, 2010
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NASA satellites use very sensitive devices called magnetometers to measure the magnetic fields of planets. Like very sensitive compasses, these devices can measure both direction and strength of planetary magnetic fields.

Learn more about how magnetometry works!

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Fluxgate magnetometers are a specific type of magnetometer used on many NASA missions. Learn how one works here!

For complete transcript, click here.

This animation shows how a magnetometer is used on a satellite to measure a planetary magnetic field.

This silent animation depicts how a fluxgate magnetometer works.

This animation decpicts how three fluxgate magnetometers can be used to get a three-dimensional measurement of a magnetic field.

This animation shows how iron filings can be used to reveal the magnetic field around a bar magnet. It also shows how a compass can be used to infer the magnetic field around the magnet.

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

This page was originally published on Friday, November 19, 2010.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:53 PM EDT.

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