Latest News
AOP Apollo 14 Challenge
CHALLENGE ALERT! This weekend celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 14 when Commander Alan Shepard hit arguably one of the most spectacular golf shots of all time…on the moon! A truly out-of-this-world shot! To get you involved at home, we have launched a really special #AOPApolloChallenge! We want you to Read more…
Latest News
Armagh StarTrackers Online “Home of the NGC”
AOP’s StarTracker Online Dates: January 27th, 24th February, 31st March 2021 Time: 8pm Ticket Price: free (donations are welcome) To book you ticket visit: https://armaghobservatoryplanetarium.ticketsolve.com/shows *Please note you only need to book one ticket for one household.* Armagh Observatory and Planetarium hosts “Armagh StarTracker Online”, a star show where we Read more…
Latest News
The Largest Catalogue of Gravitational Waves Ever Released!
Written by Dr. Gavin Ramsay One of humankinds greatest achievements was made on 14th Sept 2015 when the first direct detection of a gravitational wave event was made using the aLIGO observatories in Washington State and Louisana in the USA. This event was the result of two Black Holes, each Read more…
Latest News
New Changing Places facility installed after social media request
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is a ‘space’ for everyone Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) has underlined its commitment to being a ‘space’ for everyone by opening its new Changing Places facility. Despite the lockdown, staff were keen to incorporate the new facility after being contacted by a member of the Read more…
Press Releases
Embark on a space odyssey from your garden with these top tips
Mankind has been looking to the cosmos for thousands of years to help answer some of our biggest questions, but now, people are turning to the night sky during lockdown for a soothing, relaxing experience to enjoy at home. Throughout January and February there are a number of astronomical events Read more…
Latest News
December weather in Armagh
COOLEST DECEMBER FOR SIX YEARS, SLIGHTLY SUNNIER AND WETTER THAN AVERAGE. CALENDAR YEAR 2020 WARMER AND SLIGHTLY WETTER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE. Armagh Observatory reports that December 2020 was cooler than average at Armagh, the coolest December for six years, and slightly sunnier and wetter than average. Calendar year 2020 Read more…
Latest News
The 10 Biggest Astronomical Events 2021!
While 2020 was in many ways a strange and challenging year for many of us in one way or another, the heavens certainly gave us cause to look up and find some measure of celestial relief. Well there is good news! 2021 will be no different as we can prepare Read more…
Latest News
Sky at Night presenter to deliver virtual lecture at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
Professor Lintott to give ‘A State of the Universe Report’ One of the UK’s most highly regarded astrophysicists is set to link up with Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) next week for an online public lecture. Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford University and presenter of the BBC’s Sky at Night Read more…
Press Releases
Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter – 21 Dec
Stargazers could spot a bright light in the sky days before Christmas as Saturn and Jupiter will come the closest they have done in hundreds of years, creating what researchers describe as a “spectacular event in the sky” on Monday 21 December – which also happens to be the winter Read more…
Latest News
Rare Stars – PHL 417 and the V366 Aquariids
By Prof. Simon Jeffery Enter the name ‘PHL 417’ in the public database which tells you nearly everything known about nearly every star in the sky, and you will find an almost blank entry. It is enigmatically identified as a ‘Blue object’ of the 17th magnitude, or about 200,000 times fainter than the faintest stars visible to the naked eye. It has no other names, and no scientific Read more…
Latest News
Space Lights Spectacle to Launch in Armagh
Armagh Observatory & Planetarium to host out of this world outdoor illuminations Space Lights will be a new spectacular light trail show within the grounds of the Observatory and Planetarium running from Wednesday 16 until Wednesday 23 December. The immersive event runs each night from 5pm until 9pm with ticket Read more…
Latest News
October weather in Armagh
Sunniest October at Armagh for 12 years, slightly wetter than average, roughly average temperature. Armagh Observatory reports that October 2020 was much sunnier than average, slightly wetter and with roughly average temperature. This was the sunniest October at Armagh for 12 years. The mean temperature was nearly 10.1 degrees Celsius Read more…
Latest News
Mars plays shepherd to our Moon’s long-lost twin, AOP scientists find
by Apostolos Christou An international team of planetary scientists led by astronomers at AOP have found an asteroid trailing behind Mars with a composition very similar to the Moon’s. The asteroid could be an ancient piece of debris, dating back to the gigantic impacts that formed the Moon and the Read more…
Latest News
NASA Find Wide-Spread Water on the Surface of the Moon!
The presence of water on the Moon has long been suspected, although not in liquid or vapour form but as ice hiding deep in permanently shadowed craters found in the polar regions of the Moon. The NASA LCROSS and LRO space mission already confirmed the presence of water frost in the southern pole, but yesterdays’ NASA Read more…
Solar System
COVID Astronomy: Watching a bus-sized asteroid whiz by Earth during a pandemic
by Galin Borisov and Apostolos Christou This September, we had the first opportunity to make astronomical observations while physically present at the telescope since the start of the COVID19 pandemic. Our instrument of choice was the 2-m RCC telescope at Rozhen Observatory on the Rhodope mountains in SW Bulgaria. So here we are at 1700m above sea level with a forecast for good weather and ready for new discoveries! One Read more…
Latest News
September Weather in Armagh
Mild, dry September and sunnier than average. Armagh Observatory reports that September 2020 was warmer and drier than average and with slightly more than average sunshine. This was the sunniest September at Armagh for five years. The mean temperature was nearly 13.7 degrees Celsius (56.6 Fahrenheit), which is approximately 1.2 Read more…
Latest News
Hubble Observes Spectacular Supernova Time-Lapse
The NASA/ESA’s Hubble Space Telescope has tracked the fading light of a supernova in the spiral galaxy NGC 2525, located 70 million light years away. Supernovae like this one can be used as cosmic tape measures, allowing astronomers to calculate the distance to their galaxies. Hubble captured these images as Read more…
Latest News
Take part in the Where’s Wally Spooky Museum Search
Where’s Wally? Spooky Museum Search – find Wally in Armagh Observatory and Planetarium. This Halloween, Wally, the world’s favourite children’s book character – wearing a red-and-white striped shirt and black-rimmed specs – will be travelling the country, appearing in museums, including Armagh Observatory and Planetarium in Armagh. Families will be Read more…
Latest News
Is there life on Venus?
The answer is possibly, after an international team of astronomers announced the discovery of a rare molecule, phosphine, in the clouds of Venus. Phosphine, which is a molecule made up of one phosphorus atom and three hydrogen atoms, is a gas only made industrially on Earth or by microbes that thrive Read more…
Latest News
August Weather in Armagh
AN INCLEMENT MONTH: WETTEST AUGUST FOR 12 YEARS, WARMER AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE. SUMMER 2020 THE DULLEST FOR 33 YEARS, WETTEST FOR 8 YEARS AND COOLEST FOR 5 YEARS Armagh Observatory reports that August 2020 was the wettest at Armagh for 12 years, that is, since August 2008, and both Read more…
Latest News
ALMA sees most distant Milky Way look-alike
Galaxy is distorted, appearing as a ring of light in the sky. Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in which the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is a partner, have revealed an extremely distant and therefore very young galaxy that looks surprisingly like our Milky Way. The galaxy is Read more…
Latest News
ESA’s meteor camera captures the Perseid showers
The Perseids meteor shower is one of the most spectacular annual meteor showers. Made of debris from comet Swift-Tuttle they have been observed by sky-watchers for thousands of years and this year the LIC1 camera of the Canary Long-Baseline Observatory (CILBO) at Tenerife captured the peak of the 2020 Perseid Read more…
Latest News
July 2020 Weather in Armagh
DULLEST JULY FOR 34 YEARS, COOLER AND WETTER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that July 2020 was the dullest July at Armagh since 1986, and cooler and wetter than average. The mean temperature was 14.65 degrees Celsius (58.4 Fahrenheit), approximately 0.2 C cooler than the long-term (1796–2010) average July temperature Read more…
Press Releases
FREE ONLINE EVENT: Unlock The Secrets Of The Universe
Join UC Davis physics professor and the star of the large format film, SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE, Manuel Calderón de la Barca Sánchez on a 45-minute Zoom journey of our own planet and universe to explore some of life’s biggest questions. The program will feature 3 to 5 short clips Read more…
Latest News
Science at Home series to be transformed into experiment book and app
Armagh Observatory & Planetarium inspiring the scientists of tomorrow Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s (AOP) hugely popular Science at Home series is set to be rolled out to schools through the creation of a new book and accompanying app. The programme, which is delivered via AOP’s social media platforms, guides young Read more…
Armagh Planetarium
Breaking Astronomy News: How Supermassive Black Holes Form!
A breakthrough in deciphering birth of supermassive black holes – astronomers zoom in on black hole with one of the lowest masses ever observed in nearby “ghost” galaxy. A research team led by Cardiff University scientists say they are closer to understanding how a supermassive black hole (SMBH) is born thanks Read more…
Latest News
June 2020 Weather in Armagh
DULLEST JUNE AT ARMAGH FOR EIGHT YEARS, WARMER AND SLIGHTLY WETTER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that June 2020 was much duller than average, the dullest June for eight years and the sixth-dullest June on record at Armagh. It was also slightly wetter and warmer than average. Total precipitation was Read more…
Latest News
Experience of the Boardroom Apprentice 2019
Following the launch of the Boardroom Apprentice Programme 2020, Dr Kirstin Lemon tells us about her experience on the programme last year. Dr Kirstin Lemon a senior geologist at the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) participated in the Boardroom Apprentice Programme 2019 with Armagh Observatory & Planetarium, an Arm’s Length Read more…
Latest News
Digital Takeover – What’s your Favourite Planet?
26th June is Kids in Museums ‘Digital Takeover Day’. Here at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium we wanted to give our young followers a chance to be published in our blog. Read all about their favourite planets below. Thank you to everyone who entered! Mars My favourite planet is Mars Read more…
Latest News
The deepest view of the X-ray sky
The eROSITA telescope has provided a new, sharp view of hot and energetic processes across the Universe. The eROSITA X-ray telescope has completed its first full sweep of the sky. This new map of the hot, energetic universe contains more than one million objects, roughly doubling the number of known Read more…
Latest News
Ireland’s First Satellite in Testing
Ireland’s entry into the space race is now at the testing phase. Preparatory testing for the space mission, EIRSAT-1, is taking place at the ESA’s Hertz antenna test chamber in Noordwijk, Holland. Educational Irish Research Satellite 1 is being built by students and staff of University College Dublin and Queens University Read more…
Latest News
Stellar Weather Watch
In a new paper, Simon Jeffery reports the discovery of standing waves on two small hot stars similar to the pattern of jet streams seen in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Latest News
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Donates to Local Foodbank
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has donated a host of items from its café to the local Armagh Foodbank based in the Armagh Elim Church. With the doors of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium currently closed, the local attraction packed up food items to help members of the local community that may Read more…
Latest News
Invest NI Resource Matching Service helps AOP with energy efficiency
After recent upgrades at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium we were left with a lot of decommissioned equipment and surplus items which was overwhelming storage capacity. However through the Invest NI Resource Matching service, International Synergies, we found avenues to re-purpose old equipment bringing positive social impact and avoided disposal costs. Read more…
Latest News
May 2020 Weather in Armagh
RECORD-BREAKING MAY 2020: WARMER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE, DRIEST AT ARMAGH FOR 29 YEARS. SUNNIEST SPRING FOR AT LEAST 140 YEARS AND DRIEST AT ARMAGH SINCE 1870. Armagh Observatory reports that May 2020 was warmer, sunnier and much drier than average. The meteorological spring (March, April and May) was the Read more…
Latest News
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s 5 Questions With interview series
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) have been working hard during the lockdown period keeping our followers engaged with fun and interesting videos, talks and information on the topic of science and astronomy. Alongside experiments parents and their children can do at home, bedtime stories and interviews with colleagues within AOP, Read more…
Latest News
Hot stars are plagued by giant magnetic spots
Astronomers using European Southern Observatory (ESO) telescopes have discovered giant spots on the surface of extremely hot stars hidden in stellar clusters. Not only are these stars plagued by magnetic spots, some also experience superflare events, explosions of energy several million times more energetic than similar eruptions on the Sun. Read more…
Latest News
GOTO spies on distant comet
By Gavin Ramsay, AOP Research Astronomer In previous AstroNotes we have highlighted the Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) project of which AOP is a partner. Although its main aim is to detect the optical counterparts of cosmic explosions, it has been used to observe some Comets. Last week GOTO observed Read more…
Research News
DY Centauri – stellar evolution while you watch
By Simon Jeffery, AOP Research Astronomer In 1930, Dorrit Hoffleit reported that star number #4749 in the Harvard List of variables had faded four times between 1897 and 1929, and identified it as an R Coronae Borealis (RCB) variable. RCB stars are luminous low-mass stars (red giants) with surfaces around Read more…
Latest News
Making Neptune’s moons
Research Astronomer Dr Apostolos Christou reports on a new model to explain the two “oddball’’ moons of Neptune: Triton, a >2000 km diameter satellite that circles Neptune in the opposite direction that the planet rotates; and 300-km Nereid, the planetary moon with the most elongated orbit in the solar system. Read more…
Latest News
Bring the Moon into your Home!
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium launches new interactive app previously used in the exhibition hall for the public to try! This latest technology will help you to bring the Moon into your home via an augmented reality app. The easy to use app allows you to bring the Moon Globe into Read more…
Research News
ESO Discovers Closest Black Hole to Earth!
Breaking astronomy news! The European Southern Observatory, in combination with other institutes, has discovered a black hole – and it’s a mere 1000 lightyears from Earth! This newly discovered Black Hole forms part of a triple system (called HR6819) that can be seen with the naked eye. Petr Hadrava, Emeritus Read more…
Press Releases
April 2020 Weather in Armagh
Armagh Observatory reports that April 2020 was much sunnier than average at Armagh, much warmer and much drier. This was the sunniest April at Armagh for 118 years, the second-sunniest April at Armagh since sunshine records began in 1880, and the equal fourth-warmest on record. Total precipitation was 16.6 mm Read more…
Latest News
What to look out for in the May morning sky
Martina Glass looks at the morning sky and what treats it has for us! For thousands of years people used the stars to tell stories, mark the changes in seasons and to help navigate, but even with today’s technological advances many people now know less than those early cultures did. Read more…
Latest News
How to determine if an emission line is optically thin or thick?
The transition region in the Sun is the atmospheric layer that separates the cooler chromosphere from the hotter corona. Studying the structure and dynamics of the transition region requires greater attention as these provide critical information on the supply of mass and energy from the lower atmosphere to the corona and Read more…
Research News
Stellar Flares and Star Spots unexpectedly found to be uncorrelated
By Christopher Duffy Studies of the sun, our closest star, have shown that sun spot activity and solar eruptions, also known as solar flares, are strongly correlated – regions of the sun with many sun spots are found to be the typical point of origin for most solar flares. This Read more…
Press Releases
Earth Day events Online
Today (Wed 22 April) is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and we have lots planned for you! Over on Facebook, Twitter and Instgram⏰10am: Space Fact⏰12noon: Earth Day inspired experiment⏰3pm: “Zula Patrol” kids film (Facebook Only)⏰5pm: Earth Day inspired craft activity⏰8pm: “Dynamic Earth” film narrated by Liam Neeson (Facebook Only) Read more…
Latest News
Starry-Eyed Advice for Gazing from Your Garden
Five things to look for during International Dark Sky Week With a remarkable drop in air-pollution during lockdown and warm weather forecasts, the astronomy experts at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium have shared what twinkling treats you can spot in the sky during International Dark Sky Week. Step out to the Read more…
Latest News
Shane determined to maintain daily weather recordings despite pandemic
Data has been collected daily through famine and world wars They have continued through famine and world wars and now staff at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) are determined the daily weather recordings which have been taken for over 200 years will not fall foul to the Covid-19 pandemic. Meteorological Read more…
Latest News
March Weather in Armagh
COOL MARCH, SUNNIER AND DRIER THAN AVERAGE. EXCEPTIONAL HIGH PRESSURE ON THE 29TH Armagh Observatory reports that March 2020 was cool, sunnier and drier than average. The highest pressure recorded during the late morning of the 29th March, namely 1050.0 mbar (corrected to mean sea level), equalled or nearly equalled Read more…
Research News
Dynamics and energetics of solar coronal loops
By Professor Gerry Doyle The solar chromosphere is a complex magneto-plasma system that offers the evolution of a variety of plasma dynamics (e.g., jets, mass motions, shocks) as well as magnetic waves. It is separated by the inner corona through the particular discontinuities of mass, density, temperature, characteristic speeds, etc. Read more…
Latest News
Lockdown contributing to remarkable reductions in air pollution
With millions of people across Europe in lockdown, the corresponding drop in traffic and industrial activity across the continent has led to a remarkable drop in air-pollution. In 2017, Armagh city had the unenviable title of Northern Ireland’s most polluted city. However, data from DAERA taken on Wednesday April 1 Read more…
Research News
UK experts on Coronavirus
By Marc Sarzi, AOP Head of Research In an age dominated by fast-paced but also dispersive and often incorrect communications, we are often exposed to misleading or irrelevant information. Obtaining reliable news and advice is particularly important today as we live through the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. For this Read more…
Latest News
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium kicks off Science at Home series
Fun and safe experiments for children as schools close We have had some of the biggest names in showbiz keeping us entertained with virtual concerts, now Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) are ensuring that learning in a fun way continues for children as schools across Northern Ireland close from today Read more…
Latest News
Professor Michael Burton on life with and without daylight saving time
March 2020: The clocks go forward on Sunday for what could be the penultimate British Summer Time (BST) observed on the island of Ireland. The European Parliament has voted to scrap daylight saving time (the practise of moving the clocks forward one hour during the summer months) from the end Read more…
Solar System
Comet Encke and a prehistoric village
By Bill Napier, AOP Visiting Astronomer A comet typically comprises about 50% fine dust embedded in a frozen matrix of water, methane, carbon dioxide and other organic compounds. Approaching the inner planetary system it begins to disintegrate, with fragments splitting off along with dust and gas. The fragments spread around Read more…
Latest News
February Weather in Armagh
SECOND-WETTEST FEBRUARY ON RECORD AT ARMAGH, MILDER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE. WINTER 2019/2020 WETTER, WARMER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that February 2020 was very wet, the wettest February at Armagh for 30 years and the second-wettest February on record at Armagh. It was also milder and sunnier Read more…
Latest News
January Weather in Armagh
VERY MILD, DRY JANUARY, ROUGHLY AVERAGE SUNSHINE Armagh Observatory reports that January 2020 was very mild, much drier than average and with roughly average sunshine. This was the warmest January at Armagh for eight years, that is, since January 2012. Total precipitation was 38.65 mm (1.52 inches) including 9 trace Read more…
Research News
THE SUN AS WE’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE: CLEAREST AND MOST DETAILED IMAGES YET OF THE SUN RELEASED
Just released are first images and videos from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) – revealing unprecedented detail of the Sun’s surface, with experts saying it will enable a new era of solar science and a leap forward in understanding the Sun and its impacts Read more…
Latest News
Special Valentine’s Day StarTracker
Get starry-eyed at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Book Tickets Here A Valentine’s Day trip to Armagh Observatory and Planetarium will show the special person in your life that you love them to the stars and back. As the trend for experiential gifts continues to rise, especially among social media users Read more…
Latest News
Launch of new dome show “Explore”
New dome show “Explore” will launch on Monday 17 February at 2pm. Get your tickets in advance now by clicking here. Explore is the story of humanity’s fascination with the stars — from ancient stargazers and astrologers to the breakthrough discoveries of Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler. In particular, today’s Read more…
Latest News
December weather in Armagh
DECEMBER 2019 WARMER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE WITH SLIGHTLY LESS RAINFALL. CALENDAR YEAR 2019 WARMER, SLIGHTLY WETTER, AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that December 2019 was warmer and sunnier than average and with slightly less rainfall. Taken as a whole, calendar year 2019 at Armagh was warmer and Read more…
Earth Satellites
Armagh astronomers study solar explosions
AOP researchers have used data from a NASA space mission to shed light on one of the most violent phenomena in our solar system – magnetic explosions on the surface of the Sun. Abhishek Srivastava, formerly a research associate at AOP and now a solar scientist at the Indian Institute Read more…
Latest News
Mission Santa Blast Off!
It’s blast off for Christmas at Armagh Observatory & Planetarium New date added as over 1,000 children enjoy Mission Santa show Mission Santa show has proved so popular that we have had to add another date to this magical family event. Over 1000 children have already met Santa Claus during Read more…
Research News
SALT 2019
Lying somewhere between young main-sequence stars and old white dwarfs, hot subdwarfs are blue stars with about half the mass, a tenth the diameter and ten times the brightness of the Sun.
Latest News
Prof. Monica Grady’s visit to AOP
We were delighted to welcome Prof. Monica Grady to Armagh Observatory and Planetarium as part of the Robinson Lecture on Wednesday 27 November 2019. Monica, a Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences at the Open University, is best known for her work on meteorites and with the ESA Rosetta spacecraft Read more…
Latest News
November Weather in Armagh
COOL, DAMP NOVEMBER, SLIGHTLY LESS SUNNY THAN AVERAGE. AUTUMN COOLER AND A LITTLE SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE, WITH ABOUT AVERAGE RAINFALL Armagh Observatory, 5th December 2019. Armagh Observatory reports that November 2019 was cooler, wetter and slightly less sunny than average. This was the coolest November at Armagh for three years Read more…
Latest News
October Weather in Armagh
SUNNIEST OCTOBER AT ARMAGH FOR ELEVEN YEARS, COOLEST FOR SEVEN YEARS, DRIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory, 23rd November 2019: Armagh Observatory reports that October 2019 was sunnier, drier and cooler than average. This was the sunniest October at Armagh for eleven years and the coolest for seven years. The mean Read more…
Latest News
Christmas Opening Hours
Our Christmas Opening Hours: Closed: Tuesday 24 – Friday 27 Dec, Sun 29 Dec 2019 and Wednesday 1 January 2020 To book tickets for our Show Programme over the Christmas holidays click here
Latest News
Observatory Tours during Georgian Day
Follow the Christmas Star during a tour of Armagh Observatory and Astropark on Saturday 30 November. Tickets here. The Observatory building, the Human Orrery and the Astropark are included as part of the tour. You will hear about the Observatory’s history, its current scientific research and its programmes of Science. Read more…
Latest News
Interactive Junior Cycle Space Experience Launched
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium have announced new interactive Junior Cycle modules based on Earth and Space and the Physical World. Delivered by a highly trained education team, the inspirational journey aims to inspire the next generation into STEM related subjects. Professor Michael Burton said, “Our new programme for the Junior Read more…
Latest News
Santa to visit AOP
For the first time ever Santa is coming to Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, but it’s a real Code Red! Due to demand we have added an extra date – Friday 20 December. Tickets available here Join our E.L.F. crew on Mission Santa and blast off on a brand new Christmas Read more…
Latest News
AOP Marking Universal Children’s Day
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium are marking Universal Children’s Day by holding an after school event on Wednesday 20 November when we will open our facility for free workshops. Find out how to make an electrical circuit using play dough, make a paper rocket and watch it blast off, land on the Read more…
Latest News
Prof. Monica Grady Visiting AOP
Prof. Monica Grady is the special guest speaker at the AOP Robinson Lecture and StarTracker night on Wednesday 27 November. We are open 6.30pm-9pm on Wed 27 Nov and tickets are available here. Monica, a Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences at the Open University, is best known for her Read more…
Latest News
Transit of Mercury 2019
Over 100 people arrived at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium on Monday 11 November to view the Transit of Mercury through our telescopes, including our world-famous Grubb telescope. With special kit for Solar observing our staff and students enthusiastically greeted the crowds of public visitors and school children in attendance. With Read more…
Latest News
Launch of New Dome Show: Unseen Universe
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium launched a brand new dome show “Unseen Universe” on Tuesday 22 October. The show which features the first image of a black hole ever captured has been made in association with European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It explores the Universe Read more…
Research News
The First Ever Finding of a Signature of Forced Reconnection in the Large-scale Solar Corona
The Sun’s corona is maintained at a temperature in excess of a million degrees. The corona lies above the solar photosphere which is maintained at 6000 degrees. These regions are only a few hundred kilometers apart. A major scientific problem in solar physics is how and why is the corona Read more…
Press Releases
September Weather in Armagh
MILD, WET SEPTEMBER WITH ABOUT AVERAGE SUNSHINE Armagh Observatory, 1st October 2019: Armagh Observatory reports that September 2019 was warmer and wetter than average, with about average sunshine. This was the sunniest September at Armagh for four years, the warmest for three years and the wettest for two years. The Read more…
Latest News
AOP triumph at the NI Hospitality Awards
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium are celebrating after picking up the “Best Day Out” award at the 2019 NI Hospitality Awards. The awards, which took place in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast on Monday 23 September were attended by over 300 people within the tourism and hospitality sector. The category of ‘Best Day Out’ was one Read more…
Latest News
World Cleanup Day
Ever been on a walk and noticed rubbish on the side of the road, footpath, on the beach or in a park? Probably. I can’t count the number of times I have. While it might not be the most pleasant thing in the world to pick up other peoples’ rubbish, Read more…
Latest News
August Weather in Armagh
SUNNIEST AUGUST FOR 16 YEARS, WARMEST FOR 6 YEARS AND WETTEST FOR 5 YEARS. SUMMER 2019 WAS THE WETTEST FOR 7 YEARS, WARMER THAN AVERAGE AND WITH ABOUT AVERAGE SUNSHINE. Armagh Observatory, 10th September 2019: Armagh Observatory reports that August 2019 was sunnier, warmer and wetter than average, the sunniest August Read more…
Latest News
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is now JAM card friendly
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium are delighted to announce that we are now a JAM Card friendly facility. The Just A Minute (JAM) Card is a pioneering initiative developed by the NOW Group, a social enterprise supporting people with learning difficulties and autism. In the style of a credit card, the Read more…
Latest News
DfC Visit to AOP
The Armagh Observatory & Planetarium welcomed Moira Doherty, Deputy Permanent Secretary and Paul Gamble, Head of Museums and Libraries Branch, from the Department for Communities (DfC), on Tuesday 10th September 2019. Following a tour of the historic Grade A listed Observatory building, Moira and Paul were updated on the future plans Read more…
Press Releases
New Dome Show Programme
The summer has come to an end and what a summer it has been with all the celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. With the schools back our term time dome show programme has begun. Little Yellow Star toddler show makes a welcome return as Read more…
Latest News
AOP Host INAM Conference
AOP were very proud to have hosted the Irish National Astronomy Meeting or INAM which ran from the 4th to the 6th of September. Since 1974, the INAM or annual meeting of the Astronomical Science Group of Ireland (ASGI) as it was originally called, aims to encourage collaboration in astronomy and astrophysics and Read more…
Latest News
AOP Awarded Juno Practitioner Status
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has been awarded Practitioner status of gender equality as part of the Institute of Physics’ Project Juno initiative. Project Juno aims to address the long-standing issue of women being under-represented in physics by recognising and rewarding actions to address the issue and embed better working practices Read more…
Latest News
Prof. Garret Cotter visiting AOP
Professor Garret Cotter is an astronomer at the University of Oxford. With family roots near Birr, he was inspired by the Rosse Telescope from a very young age and then, growing up in Kilkeel, he had his first experience of professional astronomy doing work experience at Armagh Observatory in the 1980’s. He Read more…
Latest News
AOP Hosts All-Ireland Astronomy Conference
If you are a professional astronomer working on this island, then all roads lead to Armagh for you this Autumn! AOP and the City of Armagh are proud to be hosting the Irish National Astronomy Meeting or INAM from the 4th to the 6th of September. Held each year and Read more…
Latest News
Logo Moon Competition Winners Reach for the Stars
New moon logo marks launch of Armagh Observatory & Planetarium’s ‘One Giant Leap’ Summer Programme celebrating 50 years since the Apollo 11 lunar landing Armagh Observatory & Planetarium announced the winners of their Logo Moon Competition which saw young aspiring astronauts of all ages create a new moon-themed design to Read more…
Latest News
Moon Landing celebrations on the Mall
Armagh to host Moon-landing weekend spectacular on July 20-21 Cathedral City to showcase Luke Jerram’s giant-sized lunar sculpture at special two-day ‘Museum of the Moon’ festival event on the Mall next month Armagh has joined an elite group of cities across the world to host artist Luke Jerram’s giant-sized spherical, Read more…
Latest News
Celebrating 50 years since the Apollo 11 Moon landing
Armagh Observatory & Planetarium launches major event programme to mark 50 years since Apollo moon landing Armagh Observatory and Planetarium starts official count down to new ‘One Giant Leap’ summer programme of events to mark man’s pioneering space adventure Mankind’s first foray into the cosmos will be celebrated in Northern Read more…
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Visit from DfC Permanent Secretary Tracy Meharg
Armagh Observatory & Planetarium welcomes DfC Permanent Secretary Tracy Meharg The Armagh Observatory & Planetarium welcomed Tracy Meharg, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Communities, (DfC) on Wednesday 22nd May to update her on ambitious future plans and current programmes. Following a tour of the historic Grade A listed Observatory Read more…