FEBRUARY WARMER, WETTER, AND MUCH DULLER THAN AVERAGE. WINTER 2025/2026 WARMER, WETTER, AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory, 4th March 2026: Armagh Observatory reports that February 2026 at Armagh was warmer, wetter, and much duller than average. Although the month was largely dominated by low atmospheric pressure there were no Read more
Nobel Laureate Professor Reinhard Genzel delivers masterclass to top Irish students of astrophysics and high-energy particle physics. On Wednesday 18 February the Royal Irish Academy hosted thirteen postgraduate students for a masterclass facilitated remotely by Nobel Laureate Professor Reinhard Genzel. Professor Genzel is Director of the Max Planck Institute for Read more
JANUARY MUCH WETTER, SUNNIER, AND COOLER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory, 5th February 2026: Armagh Observatory reports that January 2026 was much wetter, sunnier, and cooler than average. As with January last year (2025) there were three named storms this year, Goretti, Ingrid, and Chandra, but only the last of the Read more
On 12 December 2025 At 03:09:36 UTC, astronomers at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) have captured what is believed to be the first video recording of a lunar impact flash in Ireland, and the second recorded from the UK! What you can see is a brief flash of light Read more
COOL SEPTEMBER, WETTER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory, 3rd October 2025: Armagh Observatory reports that September 2025 was cooler, wetter, and sunnier than average. This was the wettest September at Armagh for three years. The average temperature this month, defined as half the average of the daily maximum and Read more
The European Space Agency’s Plato spacecraft has safely arrived at ESTEC, ESA’s technical heart in the Netherlands. There, engineers will complete the spacecraft by connecting its solar panels and sunshield, and carry out a series of critical tests to confirm that Plato is fit for launch and ready for its planet-hunting Read more
AUGUST 2025 MUCH WARMER THAN AVERAGE AT ARMAGH, SUNNIER AND MUCH DRIER. EQUAL WARMEST SUMMER ON RECORD AT ARMAGH, DRIER THAN AVERAGE BUT WITH AVERAGE SUNSHINE Armagh Observatory, 8th September 2025: Armagh Observatory reports that August 2025 at Armagh was much warmer than average, and sunnier and much drier than Read more
VERY WARM JULY DESPITE AVERAGE RAINFALL AND STRONG SUNSHINE Armagh Observatory, 21st August 2025: Armagh Observatory reports that July 2025 was much warmer than average despite roughly average rainfall and nearly average sunshine. The month was the equal seventh warmest July on record at Armagh, while the four-day heatwave from Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium marked a remarkable milestone this week, 230 years of daily weather observations, with readings taken every single day since 14 July 1795. To celebrate the occasion, the Observatory hosted a special gathering at its historic meteorological enclosure (“MET cage”) on Monday 14 July at 10 am, followed Read more
JUNE WARMER, WETTER, AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory, 10th July 2025: Armagh Observatory reports that June 2025 was warmer, wetter, and duller than average. With an average temperature of approximately 15.3 degrees Celsius (59.6 Fahrenheit), this was the twelfth warmest June on record at Armagh and the warmest for Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is showcasing a truly unique fusion of art and science — thanks to one of its own. PhD student Alice Humpage has turned a year’s worth of cloud cover data, recorded at Armagh by the MET team, into a striking hand-crocheted blanket that quite literally weaves Read more
MARVELLOUS MAY: SUNNIEST ON RECORD, MUCH WARMER, DRIER THAN AVERAGE. SUNNIEST AND WARMEST SPRING ON RECORD AND DRIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory, 6th June 2025: Armagh Observatory reports that May 2025, with 285.4 hours of strong sunshine, was the sunniest May on record at Armagh. Also, following the record-breaking warm Read more
Armagh Observatory & Planetarium (AOP) has been officially appointed as the STEM Ambassador Delivery Partner for Northern Ireland, reinforcing its commitment to inspiring young minds and fostering a love for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This appointment positions AOP at the forefront of STEM engagement in the region, coordinating Read more
RECORD-BREAKING APRIL MUCH WARMER, MUCH SUNNIER, AND WETTER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory, 10th May 2025: Armagh Observatory reports that April 2025 was a record-breaking month, much warmer, much sunnier, and wetter than average. It was the third warmest April on record at Armagh, the third sunniest, and the wettest Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) is celebrating a major milestone in the history of astronomy and science education with the launch of a new international publication:100 Years of Planetaria: 100 Stories of People, Places, and Devices, co-edited by AOP’s own Matthew McMahon. Published by Springer Praxis, the book honours the Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) has confirmed that 30 April 2025 recorded the hottest April day in Armagh since daily maximum temperature records began in 1843, with a high of 23.4ºC at approximately 13:27 GMT with the reading taken from the Vaisala digital thermometer. This figure exceeds all previous maximum Read more
MARCH 2025 DRIER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE, AND MUCH WARMER Armagh Observatory, 4th April 2025: Armagh Observatory reports that March 2025 was drier and sunnier than average, and much warmer. This was driest March at Armagh for 13 years, continuing a series in which each month since last April has Read more
FEBRUARY WARMER, DRIER AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE. WINTER 2024/2025 WARMER AND DRIER THAN AVERAGE, WITH ABOUT AVERAGE SUNSHINE Armagh Observatory reports that February 2025 at Armagh was warmer, drier, and duller than average. In a month largely dominated by higher-than-average atmospheric pressure there were no gales or named storms. The meteorological Read more
JANUARY DRIER, COOLER, AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that January 2025 was drier, cooler, and sunnier than average. There were three named storms this month, bringing the total number of such storms to have affected Northern Ireland to a greater or lesser degree this 2024/2025 storm season to Read more
DECEMBER 2024 DRIER AND MUCH WARMER AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE. CALENDAR YEAR 2O24 MUCH WARMER AND DRIER THAN AVERAGE, AND SLIGHTLY DULLER. Armagh Observatory reports that December 2024 was drier and much warmer and duller than average. The average December temperature was 7.0 C (44.7 F), approximately 2.4 C warmer Read more
NOVEMBER DRIER, WARMER, AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE. AUTUMN 2024 MUCH DRIER, AND SUNNIER AND WARMER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory, 14th December 2024. Armagh Observatory reports that November 2024 was drier, warmer, and duller than average. Taking September, October, and November together the meteorological autumn at Armagh was much drier than Read more
DRY OCTOBER, WARMER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that October 2024 was the driest October at Armagh for six years, the sunniest for three years, and warmer than average though the coolest for four years. Although October is usually a wet month, this year it produced only 44.2 Read more
The Plato Science Working Team usually meets four times a year at the European Space Agency’s ESTEC site in the Netherlands. On this occasion one of the team was retiring so we met at her institute — Paris Observatory. Certainly, grander and a change from the usual cold breeze on Read more
COOL SEPTEMBER, DRIER AND MUCH SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that September 2024 was cooler than average but drier and much sunnier. It was the coolest September at Armagh for six years, the driest for four years, and the sunniest for 27 years. The average temperature was 13.1 degrees Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) is proud to announce that three of its esteemed astronomers have been elected as Presidents of specialist Commissions within the International Astronomical Union (IAU) at the recent XXXII General Assembly held in Cape Town, South Africa. This marks a historic occasion for both the IAU Read more
Armagh Observatory reports that August 2024 was drier and sunnier than average with roughly average temperature for August. Taking June, July and August together, the meteorological summer was cooler, drier, and slightly duller than average. With an average temperature of 15.46 degrees Celsius (59.8 Fahrenheit) August 2024 was 0.83 C Read more
A citizen science project, which invites members of the public to take part in identifying cosmic explosions, has already identified 20 new astronomical discoveries. Over 2,000 volunteers across 105 different countries have worked on 600,000 classifications over a six-month period. The project “Kilonova Seekers” aims to find kilonovae – the Read more
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
Armagh Observatory reports that July 2024 was cooler, drier, and duller than average, the first time this has happened at Armagh since 2011. The mean temperature this month was 15.1 degrees Celsius (59.2 Fahrenheit). Although this is approximately 0.26 C warmer than the 225-year long-term (1796-2020) average July temperature at Read more
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
Armagh Observatory reports that June 2024 was the coolest and driest June at Armagh for nine years, that is, since June 2015. Very unusually the monthly average temperature was less than the preceding May, the first time this has happened at Armagh for 176 years. With just 125.5 hours of Read more
Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA, has appointed Ruth Hunter, Gráinne McVeigh and Ronan O’Hara as Members of the Management Committee of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) with effect from 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2029. AOP is a statutory body as set out in The Armagh Observatory and Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is proud to announce its selection as one of 15 projects across the UK to receive funding from The UK Space Agency. This funding, part of the Agency’s Space for All initiative, is dedicated to engaging young people from diverse backgrounds and igniting their interest in Read more
WARMEST MAY ON RECORD, DRIER AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE. EQUAL WARMEST SPRING ON RECORD, WETTER AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that May 2024 was much warmer than average, the warmest May on record. It was also drier than average, with approximately half the average May rainfall at Armagh, Read more
By Matthew McMahon- Museum Collections Officer If you visit the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium this summer you will see our newest temporary exhibition, focused on some of the treasures held in our historic collection of scientific instruments and archives. Cabinets of Curiosity has been curated and designed by students from Read more
APRIL WARMER, WETTER, AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory, 3rd May 2024: Armagh Observatory reports that April 2024 at Armagh was warmer, wetter, and duller than average. The mean temperature, approximately 9.2 degrees Celsius, was 1.3 C warmer than the 225-year long-term (1796–2020) April average at Armagh (7.92 C), and Read more
Armagh Observatory, 6th April 2024: Armagh Observatory reports that March was much wetter, rather warmer, and duller than average at Armagh. For the second year in a row March was unseasonably wet. March is usually one of the four drier months of the year at Armagh, that is, February, March, Read more
FEBRUARY WARMER, SUNNIER AND SLIGHTLY WETTER THAN AVERAGE. WINTER 2023/2024 WARMER, SUNNIER AND SLIGHTLY DRIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that February 2024 was warmer than average, sunnier, and slightly wetter than average. Despite the month having lower than average atmospheric pressure there were no gales or named storms. The Read more
DRY JANUARY, COOLER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that January 2024 was drier, cooler, and sunnier than average. There were four named storms this month, bringing the total number of such storms to have affected Northern Ireland to a greater or lesser extent this 2023/2024 storm season to Read more
DECEMBER 2023 MUCH WARMER, WETTER AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE. 2O23 WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT ARMAGH, THIRD WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD, AND SLIGHTLY SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that December 2023 was much warmer than average, wetter than average, and slightly duller than average. Calendar year 2023 was the Read more
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
WETTEST OCTOBER ON RECORD AT ARMAGH, SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE AND VERY MILD Armagh Observatory reports that October 2023 was very much wetter than average, and both sunnier and warmer than average. This was the wettest October at Armagh since daily rainfall records began at the Observatory in 1838, making this Read more
SEPTEMBER WARMER, WETTER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE. THIRD WARMEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD Armagh Observatory reports that September 2023 was much warmer than average, the third warmest September on record at Armagh. It was also wetter and sunnier than average. Total precipitation was 91.8 mm (3.61 inches) with no trace values. Read more
AUGUST WARMER, WETTER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE. SUMMER FOURTH WARMEST ON RECORD AT ARMAGH, ALSO WETTER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that August 2023 was warmer, wetter and sunnier than average. Unusually, this month also recorded the first two named storms of the 2022/2023 season. Taking June, July Read more
British Association of Planetaria Event Kicks off Series of Four Conferences at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium September 2023 Leading astronomical research centre, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, recently hosted the British Association of Planetaria (BAP) Conference for the first time in 15 years . The September 1st event was the first Read more
Armagh Observatory reports that July 2023 was much wetter than average, and cooler than June. It was also duller than average, and had an exceptionally low mean atmospheric pressure for July. Total precipitation was 138.75 mm (5.46 inches) including three trace values, that is, 138.6 mm if trace values are Read more
FLAMING JUNE: HOTTEST JUNE ON RECORD AT ARMAGH, DRIEST FOR 8 YEARS AND SUNNIEST FOR 14 YEARS Armagh Observatory reports that June 2023 was the warmest June at Armagh for at least 228 years. The month was also much sunnier and much drier than average. The mean temperature, that is, Read more
The first launch window for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid satellite will come into view on Saturday July 1st at 16.12 BST. Euclid should originally have been launched on a Soyuz launcher from French Guyana, but because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, all joint ventures with the Russian Space Read more
Armagh Observatory, 15th June 2023: Armagh Observatory reports that May 2023 was much warmer and drier than average, but slightly duller. Taking March, April, and May together the meteorological spring was the wettest at Armagh for 21 years, the warmest for 6 years, and the dullest for 4 years. The Read more
As a long-standing Arts & Humanities student, it’s typically assumed that we don’t have much of an interest in or know much about science (and attending the fascinating and complex student discussions here at the AOP certainly didn’t disprove the latter theory in my case!). However, when the opportunity cropped Read more
Armagh is a partner in two telescope projects whose key goal is to detect the optical counterpart of colliding massive dead stars. Albert Einstein predicted that when two massive objects spiral around each other, eventually merging to become one more massive object, gravitational waves would be emitted. Scientists spent a Read more
Armagh Observatory, 6th May 2023: Armagh Observatory reports that April 2023 was warmer than average but slightly duller and wetter. The mean temperature was 9.50 degrees Celsius (49.11 Fahrenheit), approximately 1.6 C warmer than the 225-year long-term (1796–2020) April average at Armagh (7.92 C) and 0.7 C warmer than the Read more
by AOP Astronomer Gavin Ramsay Today the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched its Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission from Kourou in French Guiana on an Ariane 5 launcher after it was delayed for a day due to a weather forecast of potential storms. In the planning stage for Read more
Armagh Observatory, 3rd April 2023: Armagh Observatory reports that March 2023 was the wettest March on record at Armagh, that is, since daily rainfall measurements began at Armagh in 1838. The month was also duller and slightly warmer than average. Total precipitation was 140.75 mm (5.54 inches) including five trace Read more
FEBRUARY DULLER THAN AVERAGE BUT DRIEST AND WARMEST AT ARMAGH FOR 25 YEARS. WINTER 2022/2023 DRIER AND WARMER THAN AVERAGE, WITH ABOUT AVERAGE SUNSHINE. Armagh Observatory reports that February 2023 was duller than average but the driest and warmest February at Armagh for 25 years. The month was dominated by Read more
Article by: Mark Grimley Thomas Romney-Robinson was the third director of the Armagh Observatory, long before the building of the Planetarium. He was born in Dublin in 1792 and became director of the Armagh Observatory in 1823. An office that he held for almost six decades, staying in the post Read more
Armagh Observatory, 3rd February 2023: Armagh Observatory reports that January 2023 was warmer and slightly drier than average, though feeling damp, and sunnier than average. Total precipitation was 65.1 mm (2.56 inches) including 4 trace values, that is, 64.9 mm if trace values are ignored. This is approximately 89.5% of Read more
Solving a 40 year cosmic mystery about interstellar gas only to uncover an even deeper one. Author: Michael Burton, Director of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Hydrogen molecules have been found in clouds of shocked gas in interstellar space that are at temperatures of around 5,000 degrees. This is much Read more
Want to know more detail about the research described in this Astronotes article on ultra-hot hydrogen molecules? Here are five papers spanning more than four decades of research that helped lead to this discovery of ultra-hot molecular hydrogen: Velocity profiles in the 2.1 micron molecular hydrogen line emission line in the Orion Molecular Cloud Read more
World renowned astronomical research centre, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, has co-authored a research paper that announces the discovery of eight new and very hot stars with effective temperatures exceeding 100,000K. Published by the Royal Astronomical Society, the paper* is based on data gathered using the Southern African Large Telescope Read more
Armagh Observatory, 7th January 2023. Armagh Observatory reports that December 2022 was cooler, sunnier and drier than average. This was the coolest December at Armagh for 12 years and the fourth-coolest December at Armagh during the last 40 years. Considering calendar year 2022, this was the warmest year on record Read more
Written by AOP PhD Candidate Chris Duffy Although much of the work of a modern astronomer is behind a desk number crunching and working out what our data is telling us, there are also opportunities to be involved in taking that data. At AOP we have recently joined there BlackGEM Read more
Armagh Observatory reports that October 2022 was much wetter and warmer than average and with roughly average sunshine. This was the wettest October at Armagh for 11 years and probably the fourth-wettest October at Armagh since daily rainfall records began in 1838. Total measured precipitation was 149.45 mm (5.88 inches) Read more
Armagh Observatory, 6th October 2022: Armagh Observatory reports that September 2022 was much wetter than average, the wettest September at Armagh for 12 years. It was also warmer and sunnier than average, the sunniest September at Armagh since 1997. Total September precipitation was 110.35 mm (4.34 inches) including 5 Read more
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
DULL, DRY JULY, WARMER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that apart from the exceptionally dull July 2020 this July at Armagh had the fewest hours of strong sunshine for 29 years. It was also the driest at Armagh for 22 years and more than 1 degree Celsius warmer than the Read more
Written by Gavin Ramsay A number of Armagh astronomers travelled this week to the University of Warwick in England to take part in the first `in-person’ UK National Astronomy Meeting since 2019. Over 800 people participated either in person or remotely. For many PhD students it was the first big Read more
Armagh Observatory reports that June 2022 was drier, warmer and duller than average. Total precipitation was 56.1 mm (2.21 inches), including 6 trace values, that is, 55.8 mm (2.20 inches) if trace values are ignored. This was approximately 88% of the 183-year long-term (1838-2020) June precipitation at Armagh (63.7 mm) and Read more
Burcu Gunay, Ege University, Turkey We have developed a new method to look for carbon compounds in space, akin to prospecting for oil on Earth. Between the stars lie vast amounts of interstellar gas and dust, spread thinly throughout our Galaxy. The dust can contain compounds of carbon. When it Read more
WARMER, DULLER AND SLIGHTLY WETTER THAN AVERAGE. SPRING 2022 WARMER, SUNNIER AND DRIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that May 2022 was warmer, duller and slightly wetter than average. Taking March, April and May together, the meteorological spring was warmer, sunnier, and drier than average. The observed mean temperature was Read more
APRIL DRIER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE WITH ROUGHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE Armagh Observatory reports that April 2022 was drier and sunnier than average and with roughly average temperature. This was the fourth April in a row with average or lower-than-average precipitation. Although sunnier than average it was much less sunny than Read more
One the most common problems when someone begins doing research in Astronomy is the lack of previous observational experience with proper professional telescopes. Of course, the capabilities of these instruments are separated by an abyss when compared with amateur telescopes, as they are conceived to do science. Someone could Read more
RECORD-BREAKING MARCH: SUNNIEST FOR AT LEAST 141 YEARS, DRIEST FOR 10 YEARS AND WARMEST FOR 5 YEARS. Armagh Observatory reports that March 2022 was the sunniest March on record at Armagh, and drier and warmer than average. This March was the sunniest at Armagh for at least 141 years, the Read more
Armagh Observatory has recorded the sunniest March ever, breaking a 128-year record. The year 1894 has held the record as the sunniest March with 175 hours, until this year, which has recorded 188.4 hours. Thus, March 2022 is the sunniest ever March by over 13 hours. In order to measure Read more
Astronomy, and I’m sure you’d agree, is the most wonderous science of all. You are dealing with, literally, the biggest questions in the Universe from “how was the Universe formed?” to “Is there other life out there?”, but it is also, arguably, the easiest science to do yourself. If you Read more
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
It’s been just over two months since The James Webb Space Telescope was launched into space. On Christmas Day 2021, Professor Michael Burton watched the launch online, whilst enjoying his Christmas dinner! So, what has happened since launch day and where is the telescope now? We find out more from Read more
The story of Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s discovery of pulsars is one of the best known in astronomy. The story of how, as a graduate student at the University of Cambridge, she detected “a bit of scruff” on the chart recorder of the radio telescope designed by her supervisor Anthony Hewish. Read more
DECEMBER 2021 WETTER, WARMER AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE. RECORD-BREAKING 2021: WARMEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD, WARMEST AUTUMN, AND SECOND-WARMEST CALENDAR YEAR SINCE RECORDS BEGAN AT ARMAGH AROUND 1795 Armagh Observatory reports that December 2021 was wetter, warmer, and duller than average. The month was remarkable for an unseasonably very warm period Read more
It wasn’t long after the invention of radio technology towards the end of the 19th century that scientists considered using the new medium to contact beings on other planets in the Solar System with Mars being the first target. However, with the early probes to Mars and Venus showing no Read more
VERY MILD NOVEMBER. DULLER THAN AVERAGE AND THE DRIEST NOVEMBER AT ARMAGH FOR 32 YEARS. WARMEST AUTUMN AT ARMAGH ON RECORD, AND DULLER AND DRIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that November 2021 was very mild, duller, and much drier than average. This was the warmest November at Armagh for Read more
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has been in space since 1990 and has resolved many long-standing problems in astronomy, whilst raising new ones thus improving our knowledge and curiosity significantly. It has been the most important telescope we had for 31 years. Now it’s time to relay the mission to its Read more
WARMEST OCTOBER AT ARMAGH FOR 15 YEARS, SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE AND WITH ABOUT AVERAGE RAINFALL. Armagh Observatory, 11th November 2021: Armagh Observatory reports that October 2021 was much warmer and sunnier than average, with roughly average rainfall. This was the warmest October at Armagh for 15 years. The mean temperature Read more
WARMEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD AT ARMAGH, DULLEST FOR 38 YEARS AND WETTER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that September 2021 was much warmer than average, the warmest September on record at Armagh. It was also wetter and much duller than average, the dullest September at Armagh since 1983. The mean Read more
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
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is delighted to announce its latest elected members to the organising committees of the prestigious International Astronomical Union (IAU), cementing its place as a leading research institution of influence on the global stage. Three Astronomers working at the Armagh Observatory, Stefano Bagnulo, Michael Burton, and Simon Read more
JULY 2021 MUCH DRIER, WARMER AND SUNNIER THANAVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that July was the driest at Armagh for 21 years, the warmest for eight years and the sunniest for three years.Total precipitation was 25.55 mm (1.01 inches) including three trace values (i.e., 25.4 mm if trace values are ignored). Read more
Armagh Observatory reports the hottest daily air temperature maximum recorded from its weather station, following the daily reading that was made on 23 July 2021 at 10:00am BST. Using its manual station, the maximum temperature was measured at 31.3°C at a time of 15:19 BST on 22 July, 2021. The Read more
We have been experiencing some of the hottest weather on record over the past week with AOP’s weather station recording an all-time high for Armagh at 30.5 degrees Celsius on Wednesday 21 July. This is the highest temperature recorded in the city since records began in 1794. The Armagh Observatory Read more
DRIEST JUNE AT ARMAGH FOR SIX YEARS, WARMERAND SLIGHTLY SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that June 2021 was drier, warmer and slightly sunnier than average. This was the driest June at Armagh for six years, and the warmest and sunniest for three years. Total precipitation was 42.3 mm (1.67 Read more
Do you remember comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko? It was the target of the ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft, which visited and ultimately crash landed into the comet in its previous passage close to the Sun in 2014-2016. Rosetta made history as being the first spacecraft to ever orbit and land (with Philae) on a Read more
WETTEST MAY FOR 18 YEARS, COLDEST FOR SIX YEARS, SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE. SPRING 2021 SUNNIER AND COOLER THAN AVERAGE WITH ABOUT AVERAGE RAINFALL Armagh Observatory reports that May 2021 was wetter, colder and sunnier than average. Taking March, April and May together, the meteorological spring was sunnier and cooler than average, with a little less Read more
EXCEPTIONALLY DRY AND SUNNY APRIL MUCH COOLER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that April 2021 was drier and sunnier than average at Armagh, but much cooler. It was the seventh driest April at Armagh since daily records of precipitation began in 1838, and the driest for four years. Although the Read more
This week, AOP PhD Student Zuri Grey tells us all about Comet 2I/Borisov! 1) What is the difference between an interstellar comet and a regular comet? Solar System comets are believed to have come from two sources. Short period comets, which take less than 200 years to complete an orbit Read more
AOP scientists lauded for ground-breaking computer model Scientists at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) have developed a ground-breaking new computer model which will play a key role in explaining how Supermassive Black Holes are formed as well as having the potential to shape the world of Astrophysics for the next Read more
MILD MARCH, DRIER AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that March 2021 was warmer, drier and duller than average. This March was the warmest at Armagh for four years, the dullest for eight years, and equally dry as March 2020. Total precipitation was 44.8 mm (1.76 inches) including four Read more
Education team members ‘Stay Curious’ during lockdown Five members of the education team at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) have given up almost four months of their own time to learn sign language to ensure members of the deaf community can enjoy an-out-of-this-world experience when the centre re-opens. Courtney Allison, Read more
Scientists track comet which has been in orbit for millions of years in another solar system An international team of scientists led by Armagh Observatory and Planetarium astronomer, Dr Stefano Bagnulo has conducted ground-breaking research on a comet which has been in orbit for millions of years in another solar Read more
By Matthew McMahon, Observatory Museum Assistant “History is essential to science as roots to a tree. Modern Astronomy may be likened to a great city built on foundations dating back so far as to almost as old as the human race.” Basil J. W. Brown The study of astronomy has Read more
