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Human Exploration

Human Exploration

5 Facts About… Jupiter!

Let’s move on to the largest planet in our solar system, the great gas giant Jupiter. Jupiter is over twice as heavy as all the other planets in the Solar system put together. Jupiter is a gas giant planet, the largest in the solar system, made up of swirling gases Read more…

By Anna Taylor, 9 months8 months 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, 10 months10 months 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, 10 months10 months ago
Astronomers

Astronomers and Telescopes

One of our Astronomers, Dr Gavin Ramsay, reflects on his memories of some of the amazing telescopes he has travelled to throughout his career! When the telescope was invented in early 17th century, they were generally used in the urban environment. Gradually they were housed in quite grand purpose-built buildings Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 months10 months ago
Alien Life

Astrobiology II: Life on Moons!

Back to our search for aliens in the second installment of the Astrobiology Series!

By Anna Taylor, 11 months11 months ago
Human Exploration

What is NASA Sending High into Space?

SpaceX’s last resupply, CRS-19, launched into blazing sunshine atop a cloud of smoke. NASA are sending some interesting payloads high into space in March 2020… A focus of research conducted on the ISS (International Space Station) has always been how plants grow and develop without gravity helping them, and how Read more…

By Tom Watts, 1 year1 year ago
Alien Life

Astrobiology I: planets in our solar system

Astrobiology is the study of life on planets or moons other than the Earth. But, to search for life, we must first know what life is. And that might not be as simple a task as you’d think. It turns out that ‘life’ might just be an arbitrary definition that Read more…

By Anna Taylor, 1 year1 year ago
Human Exploration

Where is my mind? Mental Health in Space

In honour of World Mental Health Day 2019, here follows a brief overview of the mental health impacts of space travel and how NASA has altered its attitude to this pressing issue over the decades. Arguably, the worst thing to happen to Buzz Aldrin was walking on the moon. After Read more…

By Courtney Allison, 1 year1 year ago
Concept Spacecraft

“We should become a multi-planetary civilisation” – Elon Musk

An update from Elon Musk on SpaceX’s vision for the future.

By Tom Watts, 1 year1 year ago
Concept Spacecraft

The Future of Private Sector Space Travel

President John F Kennedy’s speech to the United States’ Congress on the 25th of May 1961 encapsulates the romanticism that has adorned the endeavour of space exploration to this day. A President asking the representatives of his people to fund a daring, groundbreaking mission to, “before this decade [was] out, [land] Read more…

By Courtney Allison, 1 year1 year ago

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RSS Intergalactic Craic
  • The Safest Dinner Party of 2020
    For the last episode of Season 1, Heather and Courtney suggest their ideal astronomy guests to a dinner party. They cover some of humanity's greatest astronomical achievements as well as discuss some of the rumours surrounding a particular famous astronomer's party behaviour! Need Some Space?
  • Turning Back The Clock - The History of AOP
    Join Heather and Special Guest Host Dr Rok Nezic as they delve into the archives and discuss the history of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium through their favourite objects. Clocks, books, instruments and rooms, they've got it all covered, and they have a bit of craic along the way.
  • Vampires, Zombies and... Bowties? Oh My!
    This week Intergalactic Craic has some added spook for your Autumn. Vampire stars, zombie stars and spooky nebulae will all be discussed by Courtney and Heather. Need Some Space?
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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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