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Taurus

February

The February Night Sky – 2019

Finally, we have left the January blues behind us, the month that never seems to end and it is now time for February fun! The chill in the air has well and truly settled in and it looks like it will be staying with us for a while yet.

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 5 yearsFebruary 1, 2019 ago
Milky Way

The February Night Sky 2018

Well, thankfully the drudgery of January is behind us and we can look forward to a month full of dark nights, stars and even a hint of romance.  And let me tell you this my dear reader, if there’s one thing we’re experts on up in the Planetarium, it’s romance**. Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 6 yearsJanuary 31, 2018 ago
Armagh Planetarium

The January Night Sky 2018

Some good news folks! If you fancy a few free ‘sparklers’ to get you celebrating, you could fill a bag with the number of fabulous looking stars that will appear their prettiest again this month against the darkest seasonal drape of the year as it stretches in all directions above Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 6 yearsJanuary 15, 2018 ago
Image of Crab Nebula
Armagh Planetarium

The November Night Sky 2017

October is over, and November is now upon us. The days are definitely getting colder, the night are definitely longer, which means the time for gazing into the night sky is now! One of the best things about November is the fact that there is not one, but two meteor Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 6 years ago
November

The November 2015 Night Sky

The nights are getting very dark and there is a definite chill in the air. Hello November, and hello to some brilliant stargazing opportunities. The Earth’s tilt means that now the southern hemisphere is in its summer, and sadly we here in the northern hemisphere are tilted away from the Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 8 yearsNovember 4, 2015 ago
April

Stargazing in April

As we head into spring it’s time for dusting off those telescope lenses and brushing up on some constellations. With the warmer weather coming in there’s also hope to see some meteors as April finishes off with the Lyrids meteor shower and a glimpse at the gas giants. Starting of Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 8 yearsMarch 27, 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, 9 yearsDecember 23, 2014 ago
November

Stargazing in November

Despite November marking when it really becomes colder and everyone has to adopt of the coat once again, it is a great month for stargazing and especially for those wanting to witness some meteors.   Observing meteors can be a time-consuming event, and often it can be unpredictable. The weather, Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 years ago
May

Stargazing in May

Looking south from Northern Ireland after sunset in the middle of May and you will see there is a parade of planets dominating the sky.   On 15 May 2014 about 10.30pm, sweep westwards from the rising full Moon in the east to pale yellowish Saturn lying in the constellation Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 years 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, 10 yearsMarch 13, 2014 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, 10 yearsSeptember 25, 2013 ago
April

Night Sky Wonders: April

If you find yourself in the great outdoors any evening during April and it’s a cloudless night, turning your eyes towards the heavens could be an unusually interesting way for you to spend a few minutes.   If we look at star charts we can see the night sky divided Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsApril 2, 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 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 crescent moon
February

Wonders of the February Night Sky

If you look towards the west just after sunset this February you will see a very bright star in the darkening sky. Known as the Evening Star, brilliant Venus steals the celestial show. After the Moon, Venus is the next brightest object in the sky. Higher in the heavens and Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsJanuary 30, 2012 ago
Image of m45 from HST
January

Wonders of the January Sky

It’s BBC Stargazing Live month, so even more of us will be looking skyward this January. What is there to see in the heavens these winter evenings? We are treated to  several naked eye planets are this month. These “wandering stars”, as they were called by the ancients are easily Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsJanuary 12, 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, 12 yearsDecember 5, 2011 ago
Nebulae

The Mysterious Heart of the Crab

The debris from a vast cosmic explosion, the Crab Nebula in Taurus is a well-known spectacle. But what is it and how was it formed?   On 4 July 1054 AD Yang Wei-T’e (?-?), astronomer to the Chinese emperor, carefully recorded a ‘guest star’ in the constellation of Taurus. Yang Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 years ago
Stars

Aldebaran: Red Giant at the Eye of the Bull

To observers on Earth, the great bull of Taurus has a fiery red eye. This is Aldebaran, an old red giant star which dwarfs our Sun. Let’s have a closer look at the facts and fiction about this aging star.   If you go out after dark on a winter’s Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 13 yearsMarch 3, 2011 ago
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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!

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