Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Celebrates Team Members’ Selection for Mimi’s Space Adventure 

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) is delighted to announce that three of its esteemed team members, Lovisa Redpath, Kerem Çubuk, and Anna Taylor, have been chosen as role models for the Institute of Physics’ new family programme, Mimi’s Space Adventure. This initiative, funded by the UK Space Agency’s ‘Space for Read more…

Infinite and Finite

Recently AOP invited David Gavaghan (1) to address its Board of Governors and Management Committee and invited stakeholders at an event on 24th June 2024. His talk entitled “Infinite and Finite” was thought provoking and inspiring, so much so we thought it was worth sharing! “There comes a time in Read more…

May Night Sky

We completed a half orbit around the Sun since I wrote the November Night Sky. It felt like yesterday, but it has been 6 months ago. The time is cruel…  The days are already quite a bit longer and are still getting longer. Stargazing is getting more difficult in this Read more…

March Night Sky 2024

It really feels like we are settling in to 2024 at this point, and hopefully the year is going well for you so far! We are finally heading into the spring months, and hopefully the constant weather warnings will abate long enough for us to get out and do some Read more…

NOVEMBER WARMER, SUNNIER AND DRIER THAN AVERAGE. AUTUMN 2023 MUCH WETTER, AND WARMER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE

Armagh Observatory, 5th December 2023. Armagh Observatory reports that November 2023 was slightly warmer, sunnier and drier than average. Taking September, October, and November together the meteorological autumn at Armagh was much wetter, and warmer and sunnier than average. Total precipitation was 60.05 mm (2.36 inches) including 7 trace values, Read more…

PUPILS CELEBRATE GRADUATION FROM ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM’S INAUGURAL AFTER SCHOOL CLUB

Leading Astronomical Research Centre Concludes STEM Programme For 7 to 11 Year Olds June 2023 Globally recognised astronomical research centre, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, held a graduation ceremony on June 27th in its 360-degree dome to mark the conclusion of the ‘Space Cadet Club’, its inaugural after school STEM education Read more…

May Night Sky 2023

“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter. To be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring – these are some of Read more…

December Night Sky 2022

Written by Education Assistant Mark Grimley Looking At The Stars  Festive lights to starlight might be the setting for us to relax to at the end of the year. During these darker months we might get the chance to see some stars a little more clearly with less light pollution Read more…

ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM RECEIVES BRONZE DIVERSITY MARK ACCREDITATION

Accolade Recognises Organisation’s Inclusive Culture World renowned astronomical research centre, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, has been awarded Bronze Diversity Mark accreditation by Diversity Mark NI. The organisation was recognised for its efforts to embody diversity, equality and inclusion. The awarding body of the Diversity Mark accreditation, Diversity Mark aims to Read more…

ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM HOSTS GLOBAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE

World Renowned Astronomical Research Centre Welcomed UK and International Delegates Globally recognised astronomical research centre, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, recently played host to research networking project, Observatory Sites and Networks since 1780. The initiative, which united UK and international scholars who research observatory histories, conducted its final two-day workshop in Read more…

August Weather 2022

RECORD-BREAKING AUGUST AT ARMAGH: DRIEST FOR 19 YEARS, WARMEST FOR 25 YEARS, AND SUNNIEST FOR 27 YEARS. SUMMER 2022 MUCH WARMER THAN AVERAGE, DRIEST FOR 27 YEARS, AND SLIGHTLY SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE. Armagh Observatory reports that August 2022 was the driest at Armagh since August 2003, the warmest since August Read more…

When did the first stars form in our Universe? International Astronomical Union Conference Returns for first time in two years to explore just that!

Returning for the first time since the pandemic, the International Astronomical Union hosted IAU Symposium 361: Massive Stars Near and Far; in the Slieve Russell; with Armagh Observatory and Planetarium taking part in the research discussions and educational outreach. This international conference bought together over 230 observational and theoretical astrophysicists Read more…

May Night Sky 2022

We’re heading into the warmer months again this time of year and looking forward to the brighter, warmer evenings, which may allow us to stargaze a little easier, if also a little later in the evening. There’s lots to look at this month, anyway, with a few meteor showers and Read more…

February 2022 Weather in Armagh

FEBRUARY 2022 VERY WET, MUCH WARMER THAN AVERAGE, AND SLIGHTLY DULLER. WINTER 2021/2022 ALSO MUCH WARMER THAN AVERAGE, WETTER AND SLIGHTLY DULLER Armagh Observatory reports that February 2022 at Armagh was very wet, much warmer than average, and with slightly less strong sunshine than average. The meteorological winter (December 2021, Read more…

January 2022 Weather in Armagh

DRY JANUARY, MUCH WARMER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory, 8th February 2022: Armagh Observatory reports that January 2022 was drier than average. This was the driest January at Armagh for two years, the warmest January at Armagh for 10 years, and the sunniest for seven years. Total precipitation was Read more…

August 2021 Weather in Armagh

DULLEST AUGUST AT ARMAGH FOR 13 YEARS, WARMER AND SLIGHTLY WETTER THAN AVERAGE.  WARMEST SUMMER AT ARMAGH FOR 15 YEARS, DRIEST FOR EIGHT YEARS AND SLIGHTLY DULLER THAN AVERAGE     Armagh Observatory, 6th September 2021:  Armagh Observatory reports that August 2021 was the dullest August at Armagh for 13 Read more…

June Night Sky 2021

Welcome stargazers! This is an interesting time of year for those of us in the Northern hemisphere, because despite the shorter evenings, we have some more unusual celestial objects with which to satisfy our cosmic observational appetite! So close those house blinds, avoid any nearby street lights and if you Read more…

The Memory of the Trees

Tree planting at Northern Ireland’s oldest scientific institution; new chapter within grounds of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium As many dog-walkers in our local community know well, the Armagh Observatory is set within an historic landscaped estate that is home to a number of astronomical exhibitions that takes the visitor through a Read more…

December Night Sky 2020

So the nights are drawing in and in as we get closer to the festive season, and though Christmas might not be quite the same as usual this year, there’s still plenty to celebrate. One great socially distanced activity you can do is stargazing! It’s outdoors and doesn’t require a group, and so you can easily go out and have a wee look up at the stars – just make sure to wrap up warm at this time of year!

August Night Sky 2020

Happy August stargazers! July was a fairly rainy and cloudy affair – this made stargazing and planet spotting difficult. Here’s hoping the August skies are clear and warm! August also brings with it slightly shorter days and slightly longer nights, meaning 11pm will be ideal for stargazing instead of after Read more…

July Night Sky

So here we are, heading into the summer holidays with thunderstorms all around us, but with some good news as the lockdown eases. Caravan parks are open again, and they make some of the best places to go stargazing, as they tend to be a bit more rural, and have less light pollution than our Read more…

June Night Sky 2020

Happy soon-to-be summer, star gazers! June has a few things going for it; it’s the beginning of summer (officially), we have a lovely new moon, there’s some planet spotting to be done in the early morning; and the combined effects of clear, warm days with lower levels of air pollution Read more…

What is a Dinosaur?

Many people’s first memories of learning about meteorites were probably prefaced by “the one that killed the dinosaurs”. This most famous and yet now non-existent meteorite crashed into our planet in Yucatan Pininsula, in what is now modern-day Mexico. In science textbooks there is an ever so familiar artists impression Read more…