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Columbia

Universe

Space and Astronomy Around the World

Astronomy is a science that knows no borders. Everyone around the world can look up to the sky and see the Universe in front of them, providing the glare from city pollution doesn’t spoil the view. In the past scholars from around the world have theorised and pondered about our Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 years ago
Human Exploration

8 Myths About Neil Armstrong’s Flight to the Moon

With the anniversary of the passing of one of the most iconic figures in mankind’s space exploration program, it affords us an excuse to re-examine the short but history-making space mission we all know today as Apollo 11. Landmark events in human exploration and scientific discovery can often capture the Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 8 years5 years ago
Colin Johnston

Columbia Tragedy: A Horrifying Memory

1 February 2013 will be the tenth anniversary of the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and its crew. After a routine science mission the orbiter was making a daytime re-entry over the southern US when it catastrophically broke up. All on board, Rick D. Husband, William C. McCool, Michael Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 8 years ago
The Future

2013’s Space Odysseys

This year has started off with perhaps a little more promise than the last, not only did the world not end but a new Mayan calendar has started, mysterious planet Nibiru did not crash into the Earth and nor did we get wiped out with any comets/ aliens/ or stellar Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 8 years7 years ago
image of family photo on moon
Human Exploration

Apollo 16: 40 Years On

Three years later after the first men walked on the Moon, the Apollo 16 mission, launched 16 April 1972 ,  landed men on the moon successfully for the fifth time and as the second such ‘J’-Mission to have been executed, again utilised the Lunar Roving Vehicle. This mission also took Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 years4 years ago
Colin Johnston

The Shuttle and Me

NASA’s final Shuttle flight is due this week, in this article Colin Johnston reveals what this historic space project has meant to him.   (This article is a sequel to Apollo and me which appeared in the July 2009 issue of Astronotes. It’s another indulgent wallow in shameless nostalgia so Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 years4 years ago
Human Exploration

NASA’s Space Shuttle: End of an Era

The Shuttle era is coming to an end this year thirty years after the launch of Columbia.  While it can boast many successes and certainly caught the imagination of the public this project also had some disasters and many critics. Columbia was the first shuttle to be launched on April Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 years10 years ago
Image of shuttle from above
Human Exploration

Space Shuttle: A thirty year history of tragedy and triumph

This year will see both the end of space flights by NASA’s Shuttle fleet and the thirtieth anniversary of the first orbital mission by this historic spacecraft. Our coverage of these milestones begins with an overview of the project’s chequered history.   In the glory days of the Space Race, Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 years6 years ago
RSS Intergalactic Craic
  • Rocks to Rockets: 4 More Amazing Women in Science!
    Welcome to Season 2 everyone! Heather and Courtney kick off the new season with some amazing women in science that everyone should know. Any questions? Email us at podcast@armagh.ac.uk 
  • 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.
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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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