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Space Shuttle

Astronomers

Ask an Astronomer

If you’ve ever had any burning questions you wanted to ask an astronomer, here is the place to do it! We’ve answered some common questions here, but if you have any more you’d like an answer to, comment on this post.

By Anna Taylor, 4 yearsFebruary 26, 2021 ago
Milky Way

Hubble Space Telescope 2018 Review

Article by: Holly Preece, PhD student at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium NASA’s Hubble space telescope was launched on 24th April 1990. It was the first optical space telescope to be launched into orbit and has been one of the most productive scientific instruments ever built. It orbits the Earth Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 7 yearsApril 6, 2018 ago
Human Exploration

Shaking Hands in Orbit: the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project

The space programmes of the USA and USSR began in a spirit of bitter Cold War rivalry but by the early 1970s internation tensions had eased a little into a détente and what had been unthinkable ten years earlier was possible. In 1975 the world saw the historic meeting in Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsJune 22, 2015 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, 11 yearsJune 20, 2014 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, 11 years ago
The Future

2014′s Space Odysseys

The year 2014 could see the first 3D printer brought into space, the first fare-paying passengers leave Planet Earth on the Virgin Galactic and the first test mission of a new vehicle called Orion that might one day take humans to Mars. Exciting stuff, bring on 2014! But what else Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsJanuary 8, 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, 11 yearsDecember 18, 2013 ago
Earth Satellites

The Real Mystery Satellites

There are thought be thousands of satellites in working order in orbit around the Earth. If the count was to include all Earth satellites including broken parts and discarded pieces, there are thought to be 21,000 pieces of space junk greater than 10cm across up there. If we include fragments Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 years 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, 11 yearsNovember 29, 2013 ago
Armagh Planetarium

Top 10 Astronomy and Space Gifts for Christmas 2013

So, last year I compiled a top 10 list of the best Space/Astronomy gifts which you can view by clicking here.  I was so looking forward to receiving my Sheldon bobble head but it looks like those close to me did not take the hint!  So this year I have Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsSeptember 25, 2013 ago
UFOs and Fringe Science

The Truth About the Black Knight Satellite Mystery

There are around 3000 human-made satellites in working order around the Earth, however if the debris of old and damaged satellites are taken into account the number increases dramatically. Ever since the Soviet Union launched the very first artificial satellite into orbit in 1957, various countries around the world have Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsJuly 18, 2013 ago
Human Exploration

Skylab: Everything You Need to Know

2013 marked 40 years since Skylab, NASA’s first post-Moon landings human spaceflight project, was sent into orbit. Here is an overview of this rather forgotten series of missions.     So what was Skylab? Skylab was the first and so far last all-American space station to orbit the Earth. It Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsMay 1, 2013 ago
IMAGE of Gemin spacesuit
Human Exploration

Spacesuits: Fashion of the Future!

Ever fancied yourself in a spacesuit? Whether in fact you believe that a spacesuit makes desirable fancy dress, it is undoubtedly, more so than any other profession in which a high-profile uniform is worn, iconic. However compared to those occupations in which uniforms are primarily worn to draw attention, spacesuits Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 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, 12 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, 12 yearsJanuary 8, 2013 ago
Human Exploration

Sally Ride, Astronaut, Scientist and Teacher

Space enthusiasts world-wide have been shocked and saddened by the death of NASA astronaut Sally Ride after a prolonged struggle with cancer.Dr Ride, a physicist, was recruited by NASA in 1978 in its Astronaut Group 8 (the first such group with female astronauts) and flew her first flight on the Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 13 yearsJuly 24, 2012 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, 13 yearsApril 3, 2012 ago
Rockets

Image of the Month: Rockets Then and Now

Once upon a time rockets were exciting symbols of a glorious and exciting future when everyone would get their chance to have a holiday on the Moon.  Well the future is now and the lunar resorts are still not here. Launch vehicles are another dull but necessary piece of civilisation’s Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 13 yearsMarch 9, 2012 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, 14 yearsJuly 7, 2011 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, 14 yearsJune 24, 2011 ago
Image of C-1057 concept
Concept Spacecraft

10 Space Shuttles which never flew

NASA’s Space Shuttles have become a familar sight in their thirty years of service, but there have been other shuttle designs which never left the ground.Some were ingenious alternative concepts to the vehicle which is shortly to be retired, some were potential replacements and there was even a couple of Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 14 yearsMay 12, 2011 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, 14 yearsApril 7, 2011 ago
Science Fiction

Apollo 18: the truth about the lost Moon missions

Apollo 18 is a SF/Horror movie presented as newly-found film footage taken by the fictional crew of a lost 1970s lunar landing mission.  The Apollo 18 film uses real NASA movie footage from the Moon (some of it doctored with CGI) and new studio-shot footage with actors and special effects Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 14 yearsFebruary 22, 2011 ago
Colin Johnston

Remembering Challenger: the end of innocence

An older generation will never forget where they were when they heard the news of President Kennedy’s murder Alas, I have three such memories. The 2001 terror attacks in the US, the destruction of Columbia and its crew in 2003 and the loss of Challenger are events whose horror has Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 14 yearsJanuary 28, 2011 ago
Human Exploration

Challenger remembered: An irony of history

Today is the anniversary of the deaths of the crew of the shuttle Challenger in 1986. The tragedy was of course recognised world-wide and letters of sympathy flooded in to NASA and the White House. Historian Dwayne Day located a letter from a well-wisher among the papers of the late Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 14 years ago
Human Exploration

Christmas is cancelled for Shuttle Discovery

This year we could have witnessed a Christmas-time shuttle flight as November’s STS-133 mission had been re-scheduled to 17 December, but once again Discovery’s final flight has been postponed, this time to February. Sinead McNicholl has the details. Originally Discovery had been set to launch on 1 November, but this Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 14 yearsDecember 15, 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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