Astronotes
  • Main Site
  • Latest News
    • Press Releases
    • Research News
  • Solar System
    • Earth
    • Planets
    • Comets and Asteroids
    • Moon
  • Our Galaxy
    • Stars
  • Universe
  • Space Flight
    • Earth Satellites
    • Human Exploration
    • Robot Exploration
    • Rockets
  • Weird and Fun
    • Concept Spacecraft
    • Science Fiction
    • The Future
    • UFOs and Fringe Science
  • Monthly Sky Notes
    • April
    • August
    • December
    • February
    • January
    • July
    • June
    • March
    • May
    • November
    • October
    • September
  • Podcast

Kerry Scullion

Our Galaxy

TRAPPIST-1 and its 7 Exoplanets

  Are we alone in the Universe? This is an age old question that has been the driving force for our ventures into space exploration. And with the record breaking discovery of 7 exoplanets in the TRAPPIST-1 system, it definitely feels like we could be on the cusp of an Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 yearsFebruary 24, 2017 ago
October

The Halloween Night Sky

As we welcome back the colder weather we are also welcoming back the beginning of the best months of stargazing thanks to the onset of longer dark evenings. Mix this with the spooky objects visible in the crisp autumn month of October and we have a recipe for fun and Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 yearsOctober 28, 2016 ago
Armagh Planetarium

Meet the AOP Team!

1 September 2016 saw the first full meeting of all of the staff of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium.     We are looking forward to carrying Armagh’s impressive heritage of astronomical research and public education forward into an exciting future together! You can follow AOP’s work through our websites and Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 yearsSeptember 16, 2016 ago
Armagh Planetarium

Armagh Planetarium Welcomes New Director

We are delighted to welcome Michael G. Burton as Director of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium.   Professor Burton is an internationally renowned researcher who specialises in using infrared and millimetre-wave astronomy to study how stars form in the interstellar medium (the tenuous matter between the stars in our galaxy, the Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 yearsAugust 1, 2016 ago
Armagh Planetarium

Christmas Card Competition Winners 2015

For anyone who is not feeling the Christmas spirit yet this Christmas, Armagh Planetarium is definitely the place you will find it! We held our 5th annual Christmas Card Competition this year at Armagh Planetarium and we were astounded by the response from the schools across Northern Ireland and beyond! Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 8 yearsDecember 16, 2015 ago
Moon

The Truth About the “Blood Moon” Tetrad

Various claims about the end of the world and “Judgement Day” can be found threaded into the long history of humanity and has become a common re-occurrence that, most likely, will always be something that raises its needless anxiety-inducing head. For my short 27 years on this grand old planet Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 8 yearsAugust 18, 2015 ago
The Future

Space Guns!

Have you ever stopped and really thought about the possibility of finding life in the universe or maybe that extra-terrestrial life finding us! And then, when they find us, what if they aren’t exactly friendly and they want our planet for some super evil plan so they decide to have Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 8 yearsAugust 11, 2015 ago
UFOs and Fringe Science

The Sirius Mystery

The ‘Dog Star’ or Sirius is a star that has its influential place in astronomical history. It is mentioned as far back as the Babylonians and was used to help signal the annual flooding of the river Nile with the ancient Egyptians. Being the brightest star in the visible sky Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 years ago
astronomers

Ancient Astronomy (Part 1)

At the planetarium it is often stated that every time you look into the sky you are doing astronomy, it has become a slight mantra that we chant to encourage people to gaze up at the visible universe and really grasp that astronomy and space is truly all around us. Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsFebruary 13, 2015 ago
Armagh Planetarium

Mark Thompson, Astronomy Star, at Armagh Planetarium

The Universe is shrouded in mystery yet through the Centuries, mankind has slowly unravelled many of its dark secrets. Mark Thompson: Stargazer reveals the hidden nature of the Universe, brought to life with mind-blowing demonstrations.     Best known for co-presenting the BBC’s popular, Stargazing LIVE, Mark Thompson is sought Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsJanuary 12, 2015 ago
Armagh Planetarium

Astronaut training at Armagh Planetarium

Every child at some stage dreams of reaching the stars and sadly as we grow up the reality of becoming an astronaut often disappears as it seems to become unreachable. Well teachers across the country unite and let’s give the children in your classroom the tools to make their dreams Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsJanuary 12, 2015 ago
Armagh Planetarium

10 Most Popular Astronotes Stories of 2014

In 2014 Armagh Planetarium’s website (including Astronotes) received well over 1 million page views from all over the world. What were all these people coming to see? Here are the 10 most viewed Astronotes articles of 2014.     1. The Truth About the Black Knight Satellite Mystery 2. 8 Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsJanuary 8, 2015 ago
Human Exploration

To Space and Back with Reid Wiseman

When Chris Hadfield revealed the heavens to people across the world by making us feel like we were there with him with his beautiful images and excellent videos he really opened up what the job and duties of an astronaut is. The name astronaut is from the Greek words for Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsJanuary 7, 2015 ago
Comets and Asteroids

Rosetta: Exploring a Comet

On 2March 2004 the European Space Agency (ESA) launched an ambitious and exciting robotic explorer into space, and you probably have heard its quite pretty name mentioned a lot lately. It is the trailblazing Rosetta spacecraft and it has been given a task that has seen many before attempt and Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsOctober 30, 2014 ago
Planets

New Horizons to Pluto

When Percival Lowell began the search for “Planet X” little did he know the countless arguments he would cause and effectively how these would lead to a seemingly ever changing solar system. “Planet X” was not the believed birthplace of the X-Men for anyone hoping for the possibility of super Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsSeptember 12, 2014 ago
Human Exploration

Women in Space

When asked about famous astronauts, children can usually name the big hitters such as the humble Neil Armstrong and his co-lunar lander Buzz Aldrin. Some can even throw in for good measure the third member of Apollo 11, Michael Collins and some can even surprise me by mentioning the awe Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsJune 20, 2014 ago
Planets

Hi Pi

Technology in this day and age has progressed leaps and bounds over the years and things that may have once been out of reach of the normal everyday person have become more readily available. For instance something as huge and important as the internet, the key to the vast majority Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsMay 9, 2014 ago
Comets and Asteroids

8 Things you need to know about Comet Siding Spring

With the let-down of the much anticipated Comet ISON you could be feeling that you have had your quota of comets for a while, but within one year of comet ISON’s sad demise, we are to be visited by another comet, Comet Siding Spring. Unlike ISON it has not been Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsMarch 21, 2014 ago
Moon

Whatever happened to Transient Lunar Phenomena?

There are said to be many unexplained occurrences and phenomenon in the Universe but us science-minded folk like to think we have solved most of those mysterious and unusual events here on Earth. Yet we humans are still baffled by many things, from the whys and hows, humans always search Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsFebruary 27, 2014 ago
Universe

3 Female Astronomers Who Struggled for the Stars

Looking back at the history of female astronomers, it was sure to be filled with some drama and struggles. Like many other professions over the centuries women have striven to be allowed to even study astronomy and have their findings honoured and accepted just as their male counterparts have had Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsJanuary 29, 2014 ago
Space Flight

Visiting Kennedy Space Center

When most people take their vacation for the year they tend to do their best to completely take their mind of their work and as I boarded the long flight to Orlando Florida and I did my very best to do just that! And while I had many exciting things Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsDecember 18, 2013 ago
Human Exploration

Cleaning Up the Final Frontier

Our attempts to reach out into space and learn as much as we can about our Universe and also learn much more about the workings of our beautiful Blue Planet has come at a cost and the space agencies around the world have not ignored the growing space “graveyard” encompassing Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsNovember 29, 2013 ago
Human Exploration

Living on the Red Planet

New research and findings are coming to light suggesting that that we Earthlings might just all really be descended from Martians instead of  that fell down to Earth on a meteorite from the rusty Red Planet.  I am not suggesting that the Martian meteorite cracked up to reveal a lost Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsOctober 11, 2013 ago
Science Fiction

The Star Wars Galaxy

I am sure it is every Star Wars fan’s dream for the Star Wars Galaxy to be a reality! Imagine the possibilities; thousands of species that could share information; millions of fantastical worlds that you could visit in a matter of hours or days; ability to use “the force” to Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsSeptember 4, 2013 ago
Planets

The Mysterious Moons of Uranus

With only two planets in our solar system without moons (Mercury and Venus) our curiosity is a little spoilt for choice. Normally when people begin to search about for information on planets with the most interesting moons dominant planets like Jupiter and Saturn tend to win people’s attention while others Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsJuly 31, 2013 ago
Human Exploration

The Dangers of Space Travel

It is probably every rookie astronaut’s nightmare, and probably even a veteran astronaut’s nightmare…scratch that it’s probably every single astronaut’s biggest fear that their spacecraft is destroyed whilst out on a space walk and they are stranded in space completely alone with no way of contacting Earth! Well that just Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsJune 8, 2013 ago
Human Exploration

Chris Hadfield: Canada’s Space Sensation

Canadian born astronaut Chris Hadfield has made his country extremely proud over his many years in service, from his countless honours and experiences as a pilot, to being the first Canadian to walk in space. He was also the first Canadian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsMay 10, 2013 ago
Telescopes and Observatories

ALMA: Everything You Need to Know About Europe’s Giant Eye on the Sky

Have you ever wished you could hop into a time machine, zip back billions of years and answer one of the age old questions that have plagued mankind from the first time someone peered up into the night sky? To know what exactly happened in the universe that created the Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsApril 12, 2013 ago
March

March Sky Wonders

The skies have been quite exciting for just the first two months of 2013, with a near earth asteroid and a crazy Russian Meteorite. Hopefully March will keep the celestial entertainment rolling with the first of 2013’s two extremely exciting comets becoming visible to us. Comets are like a young Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsMarch 5, 2013 ago
Monthly Sky Notes

The Night sky in February 2013

Now hopefully any January blues are well and truly dispersed by now and you are prepared to take full advantage of the dark February night sky. Although special events may be sparse within the shortest month of the year, maybe we can use February as you would a favourite book Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsFebruary 1, 2013 ago
January

Sky Wonders for January 2013

January sees the beginning of a New Year with everyone’s New Year’s resolutions to be healthier, to be happier and many people deciding to take up or return to a fun hobby from the past! With that I guarantee many are toying with the thought of lifting up those binoculars Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsJanuary 9, 2013 ago
Image of orion and taurus
Monthly Sky Notes

November Night Sky Wonders

Have you ever found yourself staring up into the sky wishing you knew the name of that odd shaped star pattern, or had an endless debate with someone about what exactly that really bright object was; a planet or a star but never went as far to find out?Well that Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsNovember 15, 2012 ago
Image of galactic ghoul
Monthly Sky Notes

Spooky Wonders of the October Sky

Autumn is well and truly settled in and we are in the ‘Hallowed’ month of October so many exciting things grace our sky!This month we can try and see what spooky sightings usually turn out to be, as well as some frightful objects that roam the October sky!The longer dark Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsOctober 3, 2012 ago
Image of Galilean Moons
Monthly Sky Notes

Wonders of the September Sky 2012

So summer is officially over so goodbye to the long bright evenings and short warm nights and hello to autumn with its optimal night sky viewing with the longer nights.Everything is just right.It is the Goldilocks of the stargazing seasons; we also have some of the joys of the summer Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsAugust 31, 2012 ago
image of meteor
August

Wonders of the August Sky

The summer months have been particularly uneventful, or more so the events have been hard to spot in the bright summer nights but the month of August has some amazing celestial treats in store for both the weathered and the fresh stargazer.   One of the most beautiful and mesmerizing Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsAugust 7, 2012 ago
July

Wonders of the July Sky

With the summer well underway we can really delve into some of the summertime treats the night sky has to offer us.Although the duration of darkness in the summer nights is relatively short compared to the rest of the year there are still celestial treats to behold.There are some very Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsJuly 23, 2012 ago
May

Moonlight Wonders in the May Night Sky

We are well into the wonders of the spring night sky when May begins and we ‘may’ take advantage of the many clear nights we have been subjected to recently and try our luck at finding some of those more difficult patterns and objects that are hidden away among the Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsMay 3, 2012 ago
April

Wonders of the April Night Sky

The month of April is fantastic month for stargazing and for astronomy in general with numerous dates to mark in your calendar.  From Earth Day celebrated on 22 April, in aid of creating awareness of Earth’s environment and encourage conservation efforts, to International Astronomy Day on 28 April which is Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsMarch 29, 2012 ago
Image of Uranus and its rings
Planets

Astronomer, Musician, Hero…Deserter?

Sir Frederick William Herschel is one of the most well-known and highly regarded historical astronomers but many may not know or realise there was more to his genius than his passion for astronomy. So it seems a closer look is required to try and map out the life of such Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsFebruary 24, 2012 ago
Filter by category

Choose a Child Category
category
651cdc4728eb0
1
0
8,34,40,10,41,38,78,1535,30,39,796,1164,1860,1363,3,2489,2575
Loading....
RSS Intergalactic Craic
  • S3Ep5 - Craic with all these moons?
    Heather and her new co-host Dr Rok are back! Taking time out of their busy schedules they have recorded an episode all about the dramatic increase to the number of moons of the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn! They also delve into their own busy schedules and explain everything there is to know about AOP's […]
  • S3Ep4 - Wee Bitta Craic: Bout Ye Alice?
    This month is the final 'getting to know you' episode of Intergalactic Craic: Wee Bitta Craic. Ethan and Zuri interview Alice and ask her all about how she came to be doing her PhD at AOP. Find out this and more in this info packed episode!
  • S3Ep3 - Wee Bitta Craic: Bout Ye Ethan?
    In Wee Bitta Craic this month, Zuri and Alice ask Ethan all about his PhD and how he came to be at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium. Find out more about his research and laugh along as the guys have some more quality craic. If you love listening to our students, then you can help […]
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!

Enter the Archives!
Visit our Main Website
  • Climate
  • Cookie policy (UK)
  • Podcast
  • WebsiteNI Testing Header
Hestia | Developed by ThemeIsle
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT Reject
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT