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…
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 Read more…
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has made five new appointments to its Management Committee. Three of the appointments of Mr Paul Kennedy, Dr Kirstin Lemon, and Mr Eugene Rooney, were made by Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey MLA and are effective from Read more…
The second instalment on Ernst Öpik is here. Written by Alex Preston Öpik was regarded very highly in the United States. Newspapers acknowledged his work across the vast nation, ranging from New York and Washington, to name a few. Many Read more…
Written by Alex Preston Since Armagh Observatory’s establishment in 1790, many remarkable figures have paved the way in studying stellar astrophysics, the Sun, Solar System astronomy, and Earth’s climate. Of all these figures, however, perhaps the most extraordinary individual is Read more…
FEBRUARY 2021 WARMER AND WETTER THAN AVERAGE WITH ABOUT AVERAGE SUNSHINE. WINTER 2020/2021 COOLER AND WETTER THAN AVERAGE WITH AVERAGE SUNSHINE Armagh Observatory reports that February 2021 was warmer and wetter than average with about average sunshine. The meteorological winter Read more…
As the long cold nights fade into longer warmer days its always nice to have a look out at the sky to see what you can entertain yourself with, especially as we come into a second year of lockdowns. So Read more…
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium launches ‘Cosmic Classroom’ online sessions Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is excited to bring the wonders of the solar system direct to schools with their brand-new online offering of ‘Cosmic Classroom’. Students will learn how to navigate Read more…
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP), in partnership with the Institute of Physics (IoP), delivered its first UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Introductory Course for starting PhD students in Astronomy. The course, which was to take place in the summer of Read more…
If you’ve ever had any burning questions you wanted to ask an astronomer, here is the place to do it! We’ve answered some common questions here, but if you have any more you’d like an answer to, comment on this post.
When will we find life? That question has been in the mind of quite a lot of people at one point or another… Well at least those of us who are interested in space travel and exploration. It is however, becoming Read more…
Our colleague Ria Mee has been nominated in the ArmaghI People of the Year Awards in the category of Tourism and Hospitality Champion! To vote Ria click here: Vote Ria Ria found herself in unchartered territory when the facility was Read more…
AOP’s Dr. Andreas Sander has been involved in a scientific first unravelling the mysteries of rare stars! Within the constellation Cygnus, an elderly star and its massive companion are having one last hurrah, flinging off mass at an incredible rate Read more…
WET JANUARY, COOLEST FOR ELEVEN YEARS, SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that January 2021 was the wettest at Armagh for three years, the coolest for eleven years, and the sunniest for four years. Total precipitation was 101.2 mm (3.98 Read more…
If you are looking for a reason to celebrate then mark 7 February on your calendars as it marks the start of a new year on planet Mars. The year on Mars will be 36. So we thought we would Read more…
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 Read more…
Chances are, if you’re interested in astronomy, that you’ve heard of William Herschel. A bit of a polymath, he was an accomplished musician, composer and even philosopher, but is best known for his discovery of Uranus, the first planet to be discovered with a telescope (one he’d Read more…
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 Read more…
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. Read more…
It’s the shortest month of the year, although some may argue that it can feel just as long as January. We’re still seeing the winter constellations in the night sky, and hopefully we will get some nice clear nights to go stargazing. Remember Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
NGC stands for the New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, which is an astronomical catalogue of deep sky objects and was compiled in 1888 by the 4th director of the Armagh Observatory John Dreyer. To this day the NGC catalogue is still used by Astronomers all over the world and remains Read more…
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, Read more…
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 Read more…
Still looking for a New Years resolution or lockdown hobby? Why not get into stargazing in 2021! Take a night off your current Netflix series; wrap up warm; step outside and gaze up at the wonders of the winter night sky. Winter Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Season 1 has come to an end, and I still honestly can’t believe it has happened. I am so thrilled that we were able to create a podcast in, what is arguably, the most horrendous year in all human history. Heather From Read more…
So the nights are drawing in and in as we get closer to the festive season, and though Christmas might not be quite the same as usual this year, there’s still plenty to celebrate. One great socially distanced activity you can do is stargazing! It’s outdoors and doesn’t require a group, and so you can easily go out and have a wee look up at the stars – just make sure to wrap up warm at this time of year!
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Another month, another lockdown. We have one very good outdoor socially distanced activity that everyone can do – stargazing! November does have a few meteor showers and interesting objects to see, so why not give it a go this month? Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Juno NASA’s Juno Spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral August 5th 2011, beginning its long journey to the mighty gas giant Jupiter with the aim to reveal and understand the formation and evolution of the planet. Juno was equipped with many Read more…
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 Read more…
By Dr Marc Sarzi, Head of Research After the first image of a supermassive black hole more than 60 million light years away from the Earth1 amazed the whole World last year, black holes are back on the news this week following the award of the 2020 Nobel prize in physics Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Welcome to October, stargazers! Autumn is well and truly into full swing now. Along with warm coats, changing leaves and Pumpkin Spiced Lattes, October also brings with it the opportunity to get some excellent planet spotting and star gazing time Read more…
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, Read more…
The late September and early October nights bring with them a few things; crunchy leaves for evening walks, pumpkin spice lattes for the masses and the best time of year to get planet spotting. There are five – yes, five Read more…
When the first astronauts came back from the Moon more than half a century ago, they brought back a scientific treasure trove of soil and rock samples. These were – and still are – intensely scrutinised in laboratories all over Read more…
From the fertile imaginings of the 1950s and 60s in the American aerospace industry came a wealth of Space-launcher ideas in all seemingly conceivable (and sometimes, inconceivable) shapes and sizes. So as we continue to investigate some of the ‘biggest Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
We have finally entered the month of September, however if you were to tell me that it was the 200th Day of March, I would honestly believe you. 2020 has been such a bizarre year, one we will never forget, but Read more…
Among my skills as blog editor, podcast host and Education Officer Extraordinaire here at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, I’m also a fully qualified catastrophizer! That’s right; you give me a senario and I’ll assume the worst possible version of the Read more…
We all know of some myths surrounding our only natural satellite. We’ve gazed at it for thousands of years, and it has inspired some great and unusual stories over time. We are quick to say that a full moon causes insanity Read more…
Mars is the only other planet in the solar system apart from the Earth that combines a clear – albeit thin – atmosphere and a solid surface. Therefore, an astronaut standing on the surface may observe and record phenomena on Read more…
We have a number of ‘North Poles’ on Earth. Above shows the sign at the Geographic North Pole. The magnetic North Pole is what your compass points to when you are trying to navigate using it. That is different from Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Are you up for a free ‘firework show’ from Space? If so, this is the month for you because on the 11th August (Tuesday), the Perseids Meteor Shower is coming to town! As our planet silently glides through the cold Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Happy August stargazers! July was a fairly rainy and cloudy affair – this made stargazing and planet spotting difficult. Here’s hoping the August skies are clear and warm! August also brings with it slightly shorter days and slightly longer nights, Read more…
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, Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
