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 Read more
“Commander Moonikin Campos” is the official name of the manikin launching on Artemis I, NASA’s uncrewed flight test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft around the Moon later this year. The Moonikin received its name as the Read more
Article by Ed Snowdon Whether you are a researcher gathering data, or a hobbyist taking photos from your back garden, astronomy has always required a certain amount of good luck. Instruments can be uncooperative, data can be lost or damaged, Read more
Armagh Observatory & Planetarium (AOP) has partnered with Libraries NI to distribute across the province 200 free copies of its brand-new children’s science book, “Big Book of Experiments and Bright Ideas.” Designed and written by AOP staff, the book was Read more
An international collaboration of ten partners, including Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, has developed an innovative new telescope, made up of two identical arrays on opposite sides of the planet, which will track down sources of gravitational waves such as merging Read more
Armagh Observatory & Planetarium, in partnership with the Irish astronomical observatories at Birr in Co Offlay, and Dunsink in Dublin, have submitted the first stage of a bid aiming for nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status. The application is to 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 Read more
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope reveals emerging stellar nurseries and individual stars in Carina Nebula that were previously obscured. The new images showcase how Webb’s cameras can peer through cosmic dust, shedding new light on how stars form. Objects Read more
The dawn of a new era in astronomy has begun as the world gets its first look at the full capabilities of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope’s first full-colour images and spectroscopic data, which uncover a spectacular collection 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 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 Read more
Written by Gautham Sabhahit Over a century ago, Albert Einstein formulated his general theory of relativity (GR, also called Einstein’s theory of gravitation) describing the motion of objects in space and time under the influence of nearby matter and radiation. Read more
Written by Mark Grimley Stargazing July will hopefully treat us to pleasant weather for stargazing and some warmer evenings to do it. With the long days, it will be a little bit later before we can see the much in Read more
A super spectacle is happening in the night sky from this evening and won’t be seen again until 2040. The five planets — known as “naked eye planets” because they can be seen without the use of binoculars or telescopes Read more
Visitors to Armagh Observatory and Planetarium this weekend were treated to the arrival of dozens of prehistoric toy brick dinosaurs. This is the first time the Brickosaurs! Evolution has been showcased in Northern Ireland with over 20 species within the 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, Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium was among the winners at the recent Northern Ireland Hospitality Awards 2022, receiving Highly Commended for Family Venue of the Year. Voted for by the public, the aim of the awards is to celebrate those who Read more
June night sky has plenty to offer – as long as you don’t wish for long, dark nights, that is; those are rather hard to come by in the month of the summer solstice! This means I’ll be talking mainly Read more
Ask any number of astronomers who they believe to be the most influential figures in 20th century astronomy and chances are you will hear the name of Vera Rubin being uttered a few times. Recipient of numerous awards and accolades Read more
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 Read more
Applications for this year’s Boardroom Apprentice programme are now open and available on the official Boardroom Apprentice website. Open to those aged 16 or over from all backgrounds and all abilities, this unique board learning and development programme is looking Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has teamed up with Disney and Pixar to celebrate the science that inspired the movie “Lightyear”. The new movie is the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy. It follows the Read more
Astronomers using a network of radio telescopes across the entire planet have finally been able to take the first picture of the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. Members of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium were 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. Read more
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 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, Read more
The International Astronomical Union’s Commission for World Heritage has undertaken a study tour of the three historic Irish astronomical observatories at Armagh, Birr in Co Offlay and Dunsink in Dublin in order to consider their potential for nomination for UNESCO 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 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 Read more
Welcome to April Stargazers! The month of April brings with it a new financial year, April showers (or snow showers?!) and of course plenty to look out for in our night skies. I’m going to walk you through what to Read more
Dozens of prehistoric toy brick dinosaurs will arrive at Armagh Observatory & Planetarium this summer, showcasing dinos for a Jurassic scale display. The towering 3-D brick dinosaurs are made using more than 2 million toy bricks and an interactive expedition 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 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 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 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 Read more
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 Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is delighted to welcome you this half term and into spring to experience an out of this world trip to remember. The planetarium is the ideal place to create long lasting memories and spark curiosity to Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) will showcase its prestigious show, “Our Place in the Cosmos” at free special screenings, as well as an opportunity to meet with PhD students. The dome show, which was created for COP26, the UN Climate Read more
On 22 January 1997, Lottie Williams from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was walking through a park around 4am with friends when they saw what looked like a shooting star in the sky. “It was just a big ball of fire, shooting across 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. Read more
“BIG BOOK OF EXPERIMENTS AND BRIGHT IDEAS” – ARMAGH PLANETARIUM GIFTS OVER 850 SCIENCE BOOKS The staff at Armagh Observatory & Planetarium (AOP) have designed and written a brand-new children’s science book. The “Big Book of Experiments and Bright Ideas” 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, 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 Read more
The month of December offers us the most intense meteor shower of the year. These are the Geminids, so-called because they appear to emanate from the constellation of Gemini the Twins. At the peak of the shower, over 120 meteors Read more
Ten local students are utilising their newfound skills and doing their bit for the planet, by planting 15 new trees in the Observatory grounds. Eight oaks, five redwoods, one beech and one holm oak have been chosen to be planted 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 Read more
The newly renovated café at Armagh Planetarium & Observatory, the ‘Cosmic Coffee Dock’, has partnered with local Social Enterprise, ‘The Gathering Rooms’ to supply its freshly baked treats. Visitors can now indulge in a selection of homemade cakes and buns Read more
Armagh Planetarium and Observatory has employed two local men as part of its team since August 2021, through the new JobStart Scheme. Dylan Smith and Shea Agnew have been offered roles, to gain valuable work experience opportunities and training, both Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium reports that, if skies are clear on the morning of 19th November 2021, sky-watchers will witness a partial eclipse of the Moon. The eclipse begins at 0720 am Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) when the Moon is 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 Read more
Are you out of ideas for the perfect Christmas present this year? Do you want to show someone you love them to the Moon and back!? Armagh Observatory & Planetarium offer gift vouchers for a hassle free but magical gift Read more
To make Christmas memorable this festive season, enjoy a trip to Armagh Observatory and Planetarium to experience one of its out-of-this-world Dome Shows. Experience the festive and captivating, “Mystery of the Christmas Star”, which takes you on a journey back Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is showcasing its specially curated Dome Show, “Our Place in the Cosmos” at the prestigious COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow this November. To elevate the one-of-a-kind show, the organisation has enlisted the skills and Read more
Orionids are debris from comet Halley that graced Earth’s skies in 1986 and is expected to return to the vicinity of the Sun in 2061. Orionids tend to be quite fast, hitting the Earth’s atmosphere at 66 km /sec. This Read more
The staff and students that work and study in the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium come from all over the world. Different cultures, backgrounds and even languages mix on College Hill and are welcomed by the City of Armagh. This week Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) has announced it will be presenting at the prestigious COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow this November. The team at AOP have curated a bespoke dome show to demonstrate the impacts of Global Warming Read more
Archbishop John McDowell, Chair of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) Board of Governors welcomed invited guests to the Planetarium today (Wednesday 6 October) to formally launch its ambitious new 2021-2026 Strategy. In his opening address Archbishop McDowell reflected on 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 Read more
At least one out of four white dwarfs will end its life as a magnetic star! At the end of their life, most of the stars shrink in size to the dimension of a small planet, a stage of the Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is on a quest to help your little ones experience an out of this world Christmas. Its ‘Mission Santa’ adventure is ready for launch. Returning for its second year, this enchanting space panto has been created 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 Read more
Local Armagh boy Oisín Traynor and his family recently experienced an ‘out of this world’ trip to Armagh Observatory & Planetarium, making the most of its brand-new facilities, inclusive areas, sensory room and VIP access to enjoy its latest additions. Read more
The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is delighted to announce its latest appointments to its Board of Governors. Archbishop John McDowell, who took the post of Chair by virtue of statute on his elevation to Archbishop in 2020, has welcomed five Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has launched a series of Legendary Telescopes Tours. The tour takes you on a journey through the Armagh Observatory, giving you a fascinating insight into see its historic telescopes. Armagh Observatory opened in 1790 and is now a Grade A listed heritage building in which astronomers Read more
by Apostolos Christou During the past week, Earth passed through the core of the Perseid meteor shower. The peak of the shower – when up to 100 Perseids could be observed under clear conditions away from light pollution – occurred Read more
A team of astronomers have used the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) in Chile to shed new light on planets around a nearby star, L 98-59, that resemble those in the inner Solar System. Amongst the findings 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 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 Read more
When Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and Jim Irwin touched down near the lunar Appenine mountains in the summer of 1971, they brought along a rover to aid them in their exploits. The use of this Lunar Roving Vehicle – Read more
Twinkl have created a fabulous activity pack featuring Armagh Observatory and Planetarium. They offer an award-winning digital library of over 750,000 teacher-made resources designed to help those who teach. Whether you’re a professional educator needing time-saving reliable teaching material, or 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 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 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 Read more
by Apostolos Christou On the 11th of July 2021, we were informed that Virgin Galactic’s CEO Sir Richard Branson and his fellow passengers onboard VSS Unity reached “the edge of space”. But why “the edge” and not simply “space”, surely Read more
Exploring and learning new things have always been a passion for humankind. We like new challenges. Sputnik widened our perspective in 1957. Shortly followed by Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, in 1961. Today, only 60 years after Gagarin’s Read more
Welcome to the summer! Here at AOP we’ve started our summer programme and we are delighted to welcome the public back through our doors. It may be a late night in the summer but stargazing is still a very worthwhile Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is delighted to announce it’s reopening post lockdown and excited to showcase the visitor experience upgrades and latest facility additions to families this summer. These state-of-the-art developments include a brand-new theatre experience, an inclusive and immersive 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 Read more
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 Read more
How many moons can you see with the naked eye? The answer may surprise you.. Of the hundreds of moons orbiting the planets of our solar system, all but four are too faint to see with the naked eye. One Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium were out today (Thursday 10 June) to capture a glimpse of the partial solar eclipse. It was the first one visible from Ireland since March 2015. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon comes between the 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 Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium are a regional hub for education and knowledge building around the James Webb Space Telescope. We are keen to make teachers aware of free professional development sessions to support learning around the mission! Discovery Diaries, STFC, Read more
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium reports that, if skies are clear on the morning of 10th June 2021, sky-watchers will witness a partial eclipse of the Sun. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, Read more
What do a tree, a colander and a piece of cardboard have in common? The answer: they can all be used to observe a solar eclipse! Our Sun – the brightest star in the sky – has been the subject Read more
Staff volunteer as part of Live Here Love Here campaign Staff at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) embarked on a major spring clean of the historic grounds as the momentum gathers pace towards the popular attraction’s planned re-opening on 26 Read more
From when the first pressure suits of high-altitude military and experimental aircraft pilots were adapted for applications in Space in the 1960s, the spacesuit as we know it has continued to evolve. Let’s take a look at where things are Read more
PDRA Stellar Astrophysics – Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Stellar Astrophysics. The successful applicant will work with Professor Simon Jeffery on a programme entitled “helium-rich subluminous stars and 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 Read more
It’s blast-off for Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s community outreach Delivering fun-filled Zoom sessions has proved to be a ‘Sure Start’ way to spark an interest in learning about space and the Moon for children living in Armagh. This month, the Read more
The month of May has finally arrived, and you know what the means, spring has sprung! The days are longer and brighter, the promise of warmer weather and (most importantly) there’s not one, but two bank holiday weekends! If you are anything like me, you’ll be doing some stargazing. But, what exactly is there to look 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, Read more
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 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 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 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 Read more
Hello Stargazers and welcome to April! Well, as the saying goes “April showers bring May flowers”, so we may be low on clear nights for stargazing. Due to our climate and location cloud cover often interferes with our ability to 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 Read more
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 Read more
