ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER METAL SCAR ON CANNIBAL STAR

February 2024 Leading astronomical research centre Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has played a key role in the discovery of a unique signature of the process by which white dwarf stars cannibalise their planetary systems. The research was conducted by an international team of scientists using the European Southern Observatory’s Chile-based Read more…

ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM TRANSLATES POPULAR CHRISTMAS DOME SHOW INTO BRITISH AND IRISH SIGN LANGUAGE

Accessible Screening of Mission Santa Took Place on Friday 15th December   December 2023 Leading astronomical research centre, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, screened a special version of its popular Mission Santa Dome Show in British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language on December 15th. Held in collaboration with local charity, Read more…

ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM’S PROFESSOR LOUISE HARRA RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS MEDAL AND PRIZE

A member of leading astronomical research centre, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s, management team has been awarded the 2023 Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin medal and prize by the Institute of Physics. Professor Louise Harra received the accolade for her ‘numerous and outstanding achievements and contributions’ to the field. Born in Lurgan, Professor Harra Read more…

September 2023 Weather in Armagh

SEPTEMBER WARMER, WETTER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE.  THIRD WARMEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD Armagh Observatory reports that September 2023 was much warmer than average, the third warmest September on record at Armagh.  It was also wetter and sunnier than average. Total precipitation was 91.8 mm (3.61 inches) with no trace values. Read more…

August 2023 Weather in Armagh

AUGUST WARMER, WETTER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE.  SUMMER FOURTH WARMEST ON RECORD AT ARMAGH, ALSO WETTER AND SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE Armagh Observatory reports that August 2023 was warmer, wetter and sunnier than average. Unusually, this month also recorded the first two named storms of the 2022/2023 season.  Taking June, July Read more…

July 2023 Weather in Armagh

Armagh Observatory reports that July 2023 was much wetter than average, and cooler than June.  It was also duller than average, and had an exceptionally low mean atmospheric pressure for July. Total precipitation was 138.75 mm (5.46 inches) including three trace values, that is, 138.6 mm if trace values are Read more…

ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM SPEARHEADS GROUNDBREAKING STUDY OF MASSIVE STARS

An international collaboration of astronomers led by Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has launched a groundbreaking study into the most massive stars in our local dwarf galaxies, the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds. Led by the organisation’s Professor Jorick Vink, the XShootU consortium collaborated with the Space Telescope Science Institute to Read more…

ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM CELEBRATES AS ASTEROIDS ARE NAMED AFTER ASTRONOMERS

Leading astronomical research and education centre, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, has announced that two of its Visiting Astronomers, Aswin Sekhar and Galin Borisov, have had asteroids named after them by the International Astronomical Union on June 21st. The honours were bestowed during the Asteroids, Comets, Meteors Conference 2023, which was Read more…

June Night Sky

Welcome to another edition of the night sky for the month of June! If like me you’re glad to have finally shaken off the coldest of this year’s weather to date -then the thought of some comfortable longer periods of stargazing in balmier temperatures has particular appeal. If on the Read more…

ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM PARTNERS WITH LIBRARIES NI TO GIFT ALL NI LIBRARIES FREE SCIENCE BOOKS

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 inspired by the success of the Planetarium’s ‘Science@Home’ online programme, Read more…

April 2022 Weather in Armagh

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.  Although sunnier than average it was much less sunny than Read more…

October 2021 Weather in Armagh

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 warmest October at Armagh for 15 years. The mean temperature Read more…

Mission Christmas Gifts

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 experience this festive season. Choose a monetary voucher that can Read more…

Take a Tour of Armagh Observatory

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 still undertake fundamental research, and the oldest observatory in the UK and Read more…

May 2021 Weather in Armagh

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 spring was sunnier and cooler than average, with a little less Read more…

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…

What is Radio Astronomy?

Our view of the cosmos is biased by the vista that is apparent to our eyes.  This is what the view in what we call the optically visible portion of the spectrum. To the unaided eye it is a view of a universe full of stars, together with five planets, one Moon and of course the Sun. When augmented with a telescope, our eyes can then see a universe full of galaxies – giant cities of stars.

What’s in the Sky this December?

The long cold dark nights have well and truly settled in, and now that it’s December it’s officially acceptable to say the C word. Christmas, Christmas is coming! And so is Santa Claus! Decorations are going up, there’s mad panic to buy Christmas presents and families are organising who’s having dinner and where. Ahh I love this time of year.

IAU puts the Hubble-Lemaître Law to the Vote – an update!

As an earlier Astronotes article reported on, during its XXX General Assembly in Vienna, held in August 2018, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) put forward a draft resolution to rename the Hubble law as the “Hubble–Lemaître law”. The resolution was proposed to recognise Lemaître’s research on the expansion of the Universe, and to pay tribute to both Lemaître and Hubble for their fundamental contributions to the development of modern cosmology.

Celebrating the Planetarium’s 50th Anniversary: Lindsay’s great legacy

Article written by: Professor Michael Burton, Director of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium The city of Armagh lays claim to a remarkable history that belies its small size. A history stretching from the neolithic era, and the mythology of Emain Macha (the ancient capital of Ulster), through the City’s Christian foundation Read more…