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Helen McLoughlin

Solar System

Why is Jupiter not a Star?!

Simple answer is Jupiter doesn’t have enough mass to fuse hydrogen into helium.  But you didn’t come here for the simple answer!  This process of turning hydrogen into helium is known as nuclear fusion and it is the energy source that powers the sun and most other stars. What drives nuclear fusion? For nuclei Read more…

By Helen McLoughlin, 2 yearsApril 16, 2021 ago
Image of_Sirius
January

January Night Sky 2021

Still looking for a New Years resolution or lockdown hobby? Why not get into stargazing in 2021! Take a night off your current Netflix series; wrap up warm; step outside and gaze up at the wonders of the winter night sky. Winter is a great time to observe due to the long Read more…

By Helen McLoughlin, 2 yearsJanuary 8, 2021 ago
Rockets

NASA SpaceX Demo-2 Launch: What You Need to Know!

SpaceX makes history today as, alongside NASA, it sends two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The firm has been taking cargo to the satellite many times before, but this is a momentous occasion as it is the first time a private company has sent humans to the ISS. The launch will occur from the Kennedy Space Read more…

By Helen McLoughlin, 3 yearsMay 27, 2020 ago
Planets

5 Facts About… Mars!

This week out 5 Facts series continues with our little brother planet – Mars! Seeing Red  Mars is famously known as the red planet as its dusty ground is tinged brownish red by iron-oxide (rust). This makes Mars look red to the human eye when we see it in the night sky. Read more…

By Helen McLoughlin, 3 yearsApril 28, 2020 ago
Image of Venus
Solar System

5 Facts About… Venus!

Next in our 5 Facts series we have the most evil planet of them all! The second planet from the sun is named after the Roman Goddess of love. However, as we are about to find out, it is far from lovely! Hot, Hot, Hot!  Although Mercury is closest to Read more…

By Helen McLoughlin, 3 yearsApril 14, 2020 ago
Human Exploration

13 Facts about Apollo 13

“Uh… Houston? We’ve had a problem.” Same Old, Same Old  Apollo 13 launched at 2:13 p.m. EST,  April 11, 1970 and since this was the third mission to the Moon, the public weren’t interested in moon landings. It was old news.  Even things were too good to be true at mission control as capsule communicator (Capcom) Joe Kerwin had said that Read more…

By Helen McLoughlin, 3 yearsApril 10, 2020 ago
Image of MESSENGER
Planets

5 Facts About… Mercury!

Kicking off our 5 Facts series we have the littlest member of our planetary family! Mercury is the smallest planet  Pluto used to be the smallest planet in our solar system but since it was ‘demoted’ to a dwarf planet, Mercury then won the prize for being the smallest planet Read more…

By Helen McLoughlin, 3 yearsApril 7, 2020 ago
Human Exploration

Keep Rovin’, Rovin’, Rovin’

Mars 2020 Rover. What you need to know. Mars has long been the focus of many scientists’ curiosity and over the past two decades, NASA has sent many rovers and probes to the Red Planet as part of the Mars Exploration Program. These rovers have covered several miles and have Read more…

By Helen McLoughlin, 3 yearsMarch 31, 2020 ago
Solar System

What happened aboard the ISS in 2019?

5 exciting things that you should know about the ISS in 2019! Making History 2019 was a very exciting year for space exploration as two Nasa astronauts embarked on the first ever all-female spacewalk! Jessica Meir and Christina Koch were tasked with replacing a failed power control unit. This was Read more…

By Helen McLoughlin, 3 yearsJanuary 17, 2020 ago
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RSS Intergalactic Craic
  • S3Ep1 - Wee Bitta Craic: Welcome Ethan, Alice and Zuri!
    Want a Wee Bitta Craic? Then say hello to some of our PhD students, Ethan, Alice and Zuri. They will be hosting their own Wee Bitta Craic episodes and will give you an insight into the life of a PhD students here at AOP!
  • Season 3 - What's the craic?
    What's the Craic? Intergalactic Craic is back and it's shaking things up! Join Heather and her brand new co-host to find out more!
  • Space is Cloudy, Who Knew? Featuring Kerem Çubuk
    This week Heather and Courtney interview Armagh Observatory PhD Candidate Kerem Çubuk on his area of research - molecular clouds! Turns out we can't escape the cloudy conditions, even millions of lightyears away.  Kerem and his colleagues also have a Youtube Channel dedicated to science communication in Turkish. To find out more, visit ahtapot.club 
Welcome to Astronotes

Hello and welcome to Astronotes, the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s official blog. Here you will find the latest news and views from all those who work in our organisation, from the fascinating worlds of astronomy and space exploration. We hope you will come here to learn what is hot and exciting, profound or even weird from worlds beyond ours . So that's the introduction out of the way, now on with the Universe!

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