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Sirius

January

January Night Sky 2025

Well, time moves on, into another year as we brace for (according to some) the most depressing month of the year. At least we get it over and done with and can enjoy the rest of the year – I am sure it will be a great one… However, January Read more

By Anna Taylor, 9 monthsDecember 27, 2024 ago
Monthly Sky Notes

December Night Sky 2024

During December we will be able to start stargazing from earlier in the evenings, weather permitting of course. This means that on clear nights we get a view of more stars and objects in the night sky; but it is better to be prepared for the colder weather (and more Read more

By Mark Grimley, 10 months ago
Latest News

February Night Sky 2023

Article by: Lovisa Redpath   Thankfully, the LONGEST month in the year is behind us, we finally have money again, and we are in February! With, hopefully, nice clear night skies I will tell you what you can see throughout the month. If you are interested in stargazing, let me Read more

By Heather Alexander, 3 yearsFebruary 1, 2023 ago
February

The Night Sky in February 2021

It’s the shortest month of the year, although some may argue that it can feel just as long as January. We’re still seeing the winter constellations in the night sky, and hopefully we will get some nice clear nights to go stargazing. Remember you need to wrap up warm when you are stargazing, Read more

By Heather Alexander, 5 yearsJanuary 20, 2021 ago
Image of_Sirius
January

January Night Sky 2021

Still looking for a New Years resolution or lockdown hobby? Why not get into stargazing in 2021! Take a night off your current Netflix series; wrap up warm; step outside and gaze up at the wonders of the winter night sky. Winter is a great time to observe due to the long Read more

By Anna Taylor, 5 yearsJanuary 8, 2021 ago
January

January Night Sky 2020

This is the first Night Sky blog article of the new decade and hopefully I’ll be able to point out some interesting things for you all to see in the night sky this month.

By Heather Alexander, 6 yearsJanuary 1, 2020 ago
Human Exploration

The January Night Sky 2019

Article written by: Helen McLoughlin, Education Officer Let’s face it, New Year’s Resolutions like ‘I’m going to the gym three times a week’ or ‘I’m going on a diet’ are all well and good but fizzle out after a week or two.  Why not take up stargazing once a month Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 years ago
Solar System

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.

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 years 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
Stars

The December Night Sky 2017

Hello again Planetarichums! It’s Stephen here, ready to do my very best to explain some of the upcoming wonders in our night sky as we head into winter and the Christmas holidays. So, first things first, we’ll talk a little about our celestial neighbour, the Moon.  On December 3rd our Read more

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

The March Night Sky 2017

Goodbye February, the shortest month of the year, and hello March! The desperate chill of winter is starting to lift and at the end of this month we will have the March Equinox. On the 20th March the Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 years ago
February

The February 2016 Night Sky

Goodbye January blues, hello February fun! We’re already into the second month of our new year and it’s been absolutely amazing for stargazing already. Before we get in to what you can hope to gaze at this month, I want to point out to you all that this February is Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsFebruary 2, 2016 ago
January

The January 2016 Night Sky

Happy New Year! Welcome to January 2016, and if you haven’t made a New Year’s resolution yet (or you have made one but want to sneakily change it,) why not challenge yourself to star gaze this year. Star gazing is a brilliant past time and is a wonderful activity that Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsJanuary 7, 2016 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, 11 years ago
Universe

10 “Facts” About Space That Aren’t True

So far this year we have seen QVC presenters discussing whether the moon was a star or a planet. On having searched online a voice in their earpiece told them the moon is a natural satellite, however this did not solve their dilemma and seemed to just cause more confusion. Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsMarch 5, 2015 ago
January

Stargazing in January

January is the marmite of every year, individuals either love it or hate it as it brings the beginning of a New Year and new opportunities yet marks the end of the festive Christmas season and a previous year filled with memories. Whilst most people make New Year’s resolutions to Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsJanuary 6, 2015 ago
March

Wonders of the March Night Sky

Since March means “Mars’ month” in Latin, we should find it a minor coincidence that Earth’s red terrestrial neighbour plays a more major role in the sky over the next few weeks. With continued astronomical twilight, an exploration of the centre ground astrology and astronomy share, and great opportunities to Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsMarch 13, 2014 ago
February

February Night Sky Wonders

While the winter sky may be the ‘Aladdin’s cave’ for skywatchers, and we may already have plundered deeply one of its greatest celestial treasures, the constellation of Orion, we forge ahead undeterred as February reveals yet another vault of celestial wonders awaiting exploration… No northern stargazer would wish to run Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsFebruary 6, 2014 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, 13 yearsJanuary 9, 2013 ago
Image of Sirius_A_and_B
Stars

The Other Sirius Mystery: Red or White

Today Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky is an unmistakable blue-white in colour although it does twinkle a lot and can appear to change colour. However no one would think of describing it as red.It is thus a source of confusion that many ancient writers describe the star Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 13 yearsApril 27, 2012 ago
March

Wonders of the March Night Sky

At the beginning of March look west just after sunset to see three of the ‘wandering stars’.  Mercury will be close to the horizon, with Venus and Jupiter shining brightly above it. Mercury will quickly set below the horizon and by the middle of the month will have disappeared from Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 14 yearsMarch 2, 2012 ago
Monthly Sky Notes

Sirius: a Winter Sky Wonder

Which is the brightest star in the sky (apart from the Sun)? Many non-astronomers believe that the Pole star (Polaris) is the brightest star but there are at least forty brighter stars. The correct answer is Sirius, a wonder of the winter sky.   Finding Sirius in the winter sky Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 14 yearsDecember 5, 2011 ago
Stars

6 Theories about the Star of Bethlehem

What was the Star of Bethlehem? Recorded only in the Gospel of Matthew, this mysterious celestial object is said to have heralded the Nativity. For millennia stargazers have wondered what it may have been.     Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 14 yearsNovember 10, 2011 ago
image of Bootis-virgo-leo
May

May Night Sky Wonders

In our latest night sky guide we look at the stars of late spring and early summer and ponder just what does the brightness of a star really mean. We are now well into the merry month of May and the nights are getting much warmer. The beauty and majesty Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 14 yearsMay 20, 2011 ago
November

The Leonid meteors and other highlights of the November night sky

The darker evenings of November offer some thrilling sights to stargazers including the Leonid meteor shower. Martina Redpath has the details on  what you can see in the November skies. As we get closer to the end of the year the nights are becoming increasingly longer and colder. This is Read more

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 15 yearsNovember 12, 2010 ago
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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!

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