Capacity building in space weather: international cooperation for the development of the Honduran magnetic observatory

This work presents the scientific rationale, site selection process, and operational integration of the first Magnetic Observatory of Honduras (MAGHO). The project commenced in 2019 following capacity-building initiatives supported by international partners, as the UNAM Institute of Geophysics and the British Geological Survey. Site selection was based on an extensive geomagnetic prospecting campaign involving 47 field surveys (25 ground, 3 aerial, and 4 topographic) across nineteen sites. The chosen location in the Zambrano Mountain (14°15’09”N, 87°25’23”W) was optimal due to its low magnetic gradients, minimal artificial interference, security and stable soil composition, meeting international standards for magnetic observatories. MAGHO is now a functional node in some global scientific programs, including projects for ionospheric scintillation monitoring (ScintPi), geomagnetic field vector measurement (EZIE-Mag), and cosmic-ray detection (EL-BONGÓ Physics). This observatory fills a critical data gap in Central America, strengthening regional capabilities in geomagnetism and space weather research while contributing valuable data to the international community.