By Apostolos Christou, Researh Astronomer Every 26 months, the positions of Mars and the Earth align in such a way to allow probes launched from Earth to reach Mars (see how to calculate launch windows here). The next such launch Read more…
Want to learn more about what you can see with only a pair of binoculars? AOP’s own Prof. Simon Jeffery explains how to get the most out of a pair of binoculars, and also issues you a challenge! A popular Read more…
So here we are, heading into the summer holidays with thunderstorms all around us, but with some good news as the lockdown eases. Caravan parks are open again, and they make some of the best places to go stargazing, as they tend to be Read more…
The first asteroids discovered in the early 1800’s were named after Roman and Greek mythological figures like Ceres, Pallas, and Vesta. Today, most asteroids are named after people, both real and fictional, places, animals, plants, and other natural phenomena. The Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
A myth deeply engrained into popular culture is that the Moon is made of green cheese. The Apollo missions showed beyond reasonable doubt that the moon is made of rock and not, sadly, of one of our favourite dairy products. Read more…
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 Read more…
So we know the biggest rocket that ever was, was the mighty Saturn V that took NASA’s Apollo astronauts to the Moon. But what about the biggest rockets that never were? Could there have been some other rockets that, had Read more…
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.
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 Read more…
Friday 26th June is Digital Takeover Day and we want children and young people to takeover our blog. What do you have to do? Write about which planet in our solar system is your favourite one and why! You can Read more…
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 Read more…
Happy soon-to-be summer, star gazers! June has a few things going for it; it’s the beginning of summer (officially), we have a lovely new moon, there’s some planet spotting to be done in the early morning; and the combined effects Read more…
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 Read more…
When Thomas Romney Robinson, director of the Armagh Observatory, invented the cup anemometer in 1846, little did he know that one day his invention would be recording the alien breeze on the surface of another world. Fast forward 130 years: Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Now we weren’t going to leave out everyone’s favourite dwarf planet, were we?! Small but Mighty! Pluto is named after the Roman god of the Underworld, who coincidentally was also the god of wealth as diamond and other jewels supposedly Read more…
Many people’s first memories of learning about meteorites were probably prefaced by “the one that killed the dinosaurs”. This most famous and yet now non-existent meteorite crashed into our planet in Yucatan Pininsula, in what is now modern-day Mexico. In Read more…
SpaceX makes history today as, alongside NASA, it sends two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The firm has been taking cargo to the satellite many times before, but this is a momentous occasion as it is the first time a private company Read more…
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 Read more…
And now we come to the last planet in our solar system… You found me… eventually Up until the discovery of Neptune all planets in our Solar System were found with the naked eye or with the aid of a Read more…
How astronomy can help us understand the spread of a pandemic Article by Michael Burton, Director of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium The Hill of Infinity of Armagh, in the Astropark of the Observatory and Planetarium, contains a scale model Read more…
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 Read more…
Now we come to the penultimate planet in our solar system, the lovely Uranus! That’s Not My Name! Uranus was discovered in March 1781 by astronomer William Herschel. He was observing the stars in the night sky using a telescope that Read more…
It’s International Day of Light today! In honour of this international event, we at Astronotes decided it would be an excellent chance to explain how light could be the future for our climate and the answer to our questions about Read more…
This week it’s Museum Week 2020 and today has the honour of being #ClimateMW day! Here at AOP we monitor the weather daily, and have been keeping weather records for over 200 years – clearly we are very interested in Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Now we come to the sixth planet from the sun, with the magnificent ring system, it’s Saturn! It is now the planet with the most known moons! Saturn recently beat out Jupiter in the moons category, even though Jupiter is Read more…
50 years ago, humankind took its first steps on the moon, and the world celebrated. However, 47 years ago, the last human walked on the moon, and we have not been back since. Until now. The new programme that will Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
So, it’s been a weird spring so far this year, with most people working from home and stuck in their houses. But we’ve been getting some good weather over the last few weeks, allowing us to get out for our daily Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
By Galin Borisov (not the interstellar comet discoverer) During this tough period of COVID-19 pandemic, most of the astronomical observatories around the world are closed and no observations are carried out. But my Bulgarian colleague, Yanko Nikolov, decided to self-isolate Read more…
This week out 5 Facts series continues with our little brother planet – Mars! Seeing Red Mars is famously known as the red planet as its dusty ground is tinged brownish red by iron-oxide (rust). This makes Mars look red to the Read more…
Today marks the 30th birthday of The Hubble Space Telescope (HST). On the 24th of April 1990 NASA launched Hubble into low earth orbit and it is still up there today! Hubble has allowed us to see deep within the Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
This week our 5 Facts series continues with our home planet! Read on to learn more about our Earth. Earth is the only planet not named after a God The other planets in our Solar System are named after Roman Read more…
Various nations have produced rockets of different shapes and sizes down through the years, but a question that often comes to the fore is which was the biggest of them all? As it takes objects with a large mass a Read more…
Those of you going out late in the day for an evening stroll or just enjoying the spring smells in your garden may have noticed a bright white beacon of light shining high in the west after sunset. This is Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Next in our 5 Facts series we have the most evil planet of them all! The second planet from the sun is named after the Roman Goddess of love. However, as we are about to find out, it is far Read more…
“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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Kicking off our 5 Facts series we have the littlest member of our planetary family! Mercury is the smallest planet Pluto used to be the smallest planet in our solar system but since it was ‘demoted’ to a dwarf planet, Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Hello Stargazers! We are well and truly into spring now (and hopefully we have all recovered from losing that 1 precious hour of sleep when the clocks sprung forward, eh?). The high pressure weather system we have had recently means Read more…
It’s not every day, or every year for that matter, that we get to see a really bright comet. Many of us, including the author of this article, remember comet Hale-Bopp that adorned Earth’s skies in the first months of Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
During the early years of the space programme, and before humans ever ventured beyond Earth’s atmosphere, our non-human companions were sent into space – but why? In these early days humans were unclear whether we could even survive in space! Information Read more…
Welcome to spring! In theory at least – someone should really let our climate know that it’s time to brighten up a little bit. Depending on whether or not you adhere to the meteorological or astronomical definitions of “spring”, it Read more…
Back to our search for aliens in the second installment of the Astrobiology Series!
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
So as it turns out, we have had a secret, tiny moon lurking around our planet for potentially up to 3 years – and we had no idea! It’s not surprising we missed it – it’s no Europa for sure. Read more…
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. Read more…
Article written by: Ciara, from Ciara’s Journey Blog It’s an umbrella term for Comets, Asteroids, Meteoroids, Meteors, Meteorites and Bolides. It’s anything that is in our Solar System and that isn’t a planet or a satellite! In this blog post Read more…
Moving on to our February Night Sky article (already) featuring htings to look out for while the sun still sets nice and early. Watch out for the cold, though!
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 Read more…
Has a crime ever been committed in space? Who would investigate allegations of crimes committed beyond Earth’s atmosphere? Under what jurisdiction are astronauts held accountable as no country owns space? Well, in space all astronauts are governed by National Law; Read more…
5 exciting things that you should know about the ISS in 2019! Making History 2019 was a very exciting year for space exploration as two Nasa astronauts embarked on the first ever all-female spacewalk! Jessica Meir and Christina Koch were Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
This is the first Night Sky blog article of the new decade and hopefully I’ll be able to point out some interesting things for you all to see in the night sky this month.
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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.
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 Read more…
Ah, the winter night sky, how we love thee. The shorter daytime means even longer to stargaze; if we are lucky here in Armagh we will get some high pressure days leading to crisp, clear, starry nights. So, in the Read more…
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. Read more…
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 Read more…
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
Have you ever wondered about the impact that you may have as an amateur astronomer? How much can amateur and professional astronomers gain from each other? Can amateur astronomers impact research? Please listen below to a short audio piece by Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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. Read more…
The 2019 Nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three scientists: James Peebles, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz. This blog post will briefly outline why Mayor and Queloz were awarded their prize. In 1995 these Swiss astronomers announced the Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
Observers in Ireland and Great Britain will have an opportunity, weather permitting, to observe a rare astronomical event on Monday 11th November, when the planet Mercury will transit across the Sun. Transits occur when a planet lies directly between the Read more…
