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

Oort Cloud

Stars

Rogue star not heading for Solar System collision after all

Author Name: Thomas Howarth What you’ll discover in this blog post: What may happen if a star wanders too close to the Solar System How astronomers look for these incoming stars How astronomers of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium used the ESO’s VLT to rule out one such close encounter Read more

By Anna Taylor, 2 yearsNovember 15, 2023 ago
Solar System

Who discovered? The Space Edition

Article written by: Heather Alexander Have you ever had a fun night out with friends, or a lazy day in with loved ones, or even just strolled down the street, and asked the question “Who discovered…?” I am the type of person who asks this question, frequently. Thanks goodness I Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 8 yearsFebruary 9, 2018 ago
Solar System

The Curious Comet 96P/Machholz

Comets are small icy and rocky objects flying around our Solar System on elliptical orbits, as opposed to near-circular ones the planets are enjoying. They are strange and fantastic enough as it is: bright comets with their tails spanning across the sky have been marvelled at, recorded, and often feared Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 8 yearsDecember 1, 2017 ago
Planets

Is it Planet 9, is it Planet X, or Both?

As a species we human beings are rather obsessed with the end of our world and how that is going to happen. From zombie apocalypses to giant asteroids hitting the Earth, we’ve pretty much thought of everything. However there is a new idea in town, and it makes giant asteroids Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsMay 17, 2016 ago
Comets and Asteroids

V774104: Could a Dark World Put a New Light on Solar System History?

Newly discovered small Solar System body V774104 may seem just another tiny, cold and remote world beyond Neptune but this is an important finding as its mere existence suggests that the wastes of the outer Solar System are considerably more populous than we thought a couple of decades ago.   Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsNovember 12, 2015 ago
Solar System

The Grand Tack

It is widely accepted that our Solar System was created about 4.6 billion years ago based on dating of meteorites. Scientists believe the Solar System formed when a cloud of dust was disrupted by the shockwave from the explosive death of a nearby star initiating its collapse into a stellar Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsSeptember 11, 2015 ago
Stars

Did a Wandering Star Light Up Ancient Skies?

Seventy thousand years ago our world, unmarked by agriculture and industry, was a very different planet. Back then Earth was shared by at least four separate types of human being. Tough and sturdy Neanderthal folk hunted mammoths and built huts across the chilly forests, mountains and plains of Eurasia. Further Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsFebruary 18, 2015 ago
Comets and Asteroids

Comet Lovejoy is on the Way

Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) was discovered in August 2014. Observers in the southern Hemisphere could see it throughout the last quarter of 2014. By December 2014 the comet could be seen in binoculars or a small telescope as a faint blob with a fainter still.   The comet spent the Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsDecember 23, 2014 ago
Comets and Asteroids

VP113 Comes Out of the Darkness

One of the latest members of the Solar System to be discovered, 2012 VP113 is a tiny isolated world in the outer Solar System. It’s attracting attention as it could one day help lead astronomers to discover a whole new planet.   Flying outward from the Sun, away from the Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsApril 2, 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, 12 yearsMarch 21, 2014 ago
Comets and Asteroids

10 Things You Need to Know About Comet ISON

Comet ISON is here! This new comet was in January 2013 just a dim speck in the constellation Gemini, between the stars Castor and Pollux. Astronomers could not agree if it was going to develop into the greatest astronomical spectacle in a decade or into a dim and disappointing smudge- Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 13 yearsJanuary 16, 2013 ago
Comets and Asteroids

Comet ISON: The Comet of the Century?

Comet ISON is coming!This newly-discovered comet may by November 2013 be an unforgettable spectacle, dominating the night sky.The comet may be even brighter than the fondly-remembered Hale-Bopp of 1997!   C/2012 S1 (ISON) was announced on 24 September 2012.It was spotted by Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok on CCD images Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 13 yearsSeptember 26, 2012 ago
Filter by category

Choose a Child Category
category
68e91eaf54fdc
1
0
8,34,40,10,41,38,78,1535,30,39,796,1164,1860,1363,3,2489,2575
Loading....
RSS Intergalactic Craic
  • S3Ep6 - Intergalactic Craic On The Road
    Welcome to a very special edition of Intergalactic Craic where we take it on the road! Join Rok, Zuri, Alice, and Andrew as they venture half way around the world to attend the ACM2023 conference in Flagstaff Arizona!
  • 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!
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
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