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rockets

Rockets

The Biggest Rockets That Never Were – Part 2!

From the fertile imaginings of the 1950s and 60s in the American aerospace industry came a wealth of Space-launcher ideas in all seemingly conceivable (and sometimes, inconceivable) shapes and sizes. So as we continue to investigate some of the ‘biggest rockets that never were’ and cannot examine them all, let’s Read more…

By Nick Parke, 7 months7 months ago
Rockets

The Biggest Rocket There Ever Was!

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 considerable amount of energy to move against the pull of Read more…

By Nick Parke, 1 year12 months ago
Latest News

Santa to visit AOP

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 Mission Santa and blast off on a brand new Christmas Read more…

By Sinead Mackle, 1 year1 year ago
Concept Spacecraft

“We should become a multi-planetary civilisation” – Elon Musk

An update from Elon Musk on SpaceX’s vision for the future.

By Tom Watts, 2 years2 years ago
Robot Exploration

How Did New Horizons Get to Pluto so Quickly?

Our Solar System is vast. We on Earth cruise around the Sun in an orbit with a radius of about 150 million km (93 million miles), but the most distant planet, Neptune, is about thirty times further from the Sun. Enormous distances and the limitations of rocketry means reaching the Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 6 years5 years ago
Concept Spacecraft

XS-1: Spaceplane of the Future?

The good news first: a major aerospace contractor is researching how to build a reusable spaceplane that could dramatically cut the cost of accessing low Earth orbit. Now the bad news: it is purely for military users and cannot carry people.     Aerospace giant Northrop Grumman has won a Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 years7 years ago
Human Exploration

Apollo 11: the First Lunar Landing

In July 1969, those who could gathered around available television sets and radios for the moment that human life would leave their first trace on the Moon. At 0256 GMT Neil Armstrong stepped out of the Lunar Module Eagle. As his left foot touched the lunar surface, he declared the Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 years5 years ago
UFOs and Fringe Science

Was NASA Technology Predicted in Ancient Indian Writings?

Is it possible that ancient cultures 7000 years ago knew how to create flying machines to traverse the sky and beyond using a technology that NASA engineers are still trying to harness today? The first artificial satellite launched famously into orbit was the Russian satellite Sputnik, in 1957. Prior to Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 years3 years ago
Armagh Planetarium

St Patrick’s Academy Rockets Ahead

“Encouraging school children to enter the world of aerospace, engineering and science” This is the motto for the Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge which takes place across the globe.  The prize, if you accept the challenge, is an all-expenses paid trip to Paris and Toulouse for the final fly-off against teams from Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 years ago
Human Exploration

Dreamchaser: Everything You Need to Know About the Mini-Shuttle

It is almost three years since NASA’s Space Shuttle program flew its last mission in July 2011, after providing a mode of transport into space for various crews over a 30 year career. The retired fleet of four orbiters (Challenger, Endeavour, Discovery and Atlantis) are now pride of place in Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 years ago

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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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