Armagh Observatory facts for kids

Armagh Observatory is a special place in Armagh, Northern Ireland, where scientists study space and Earth's climate. About 25 astronomers work here. They learn about stars, the Sun, our Solar System, and even how Earth's weather changes. In 2018, the Observatory was famous for having kept weather records for 224 years without stopping!

A Look Back: History of Armagh Observatory

The Observatory is located near the center of Armagh city. It's right next to the Armagh Planetarium, surrounded by 14 acres of beautiful gardens called the Armagh Astropark. A very important person, Archbishop Richard Robinson, started the Observatory in 1789. He was the head of the Church of Ireland in Armagh.

Early on, from 1795 to 1797, astronomers at Armagh studied the Sun. They even measured sunspots, which are dark spots on the Sun's surface.

A famous scientist named Ernst Julius Öpik worked here for over 30 years. He made many important discoveries in space science. He even wrote about the dangers of asteroids hitting Earth.

One of the Observatory's directors, Thomas Romney Robinson, invented a special tool. It was called the cup anemometer. This device helps measure how fast the wind is blowing.

In 1949, there was a plan to build the Armagh Planetarium. After many years of work, the Planetarium opened in 1968. Its first director was the well-known astronomer Patrick Moore. The Planetarium celebrated its 50th birthday in 2018.

In 2018, the Observatory received a special award. It was from the World Meteorological Organisation. The award was for keeping weather records for 224 years without any breaks! These records go all the way back to 1794. Today, you can even find these old weather records online.

Today, the Observatory, along with the nearby Planetarium and Astropark, is a popular place to visit. It's also a great education center. Visitors can explore the gardens, see old telescopes, and look at devices like sundials.

What You Can See: Facilities at the Observatory

The Astropark has many cool things to explore. You can find models of our Solar System and even the whole Universe! There are also two sundials and historic telescopes. You can see telescope domes and other exhibits outdoors.

The Human Orrery, which opened in 2004, is near the main Observatory building. It's a fun way to learn about how planets move. The Observatory also has a special library and old records. It has many scientific tools and items from the history of astronomy. This collection is one of the best in the British Isles.

Tools for Stargazing: Instruments

In 1795, a special telescope was set up in a dome. It was a 2½ inch refracting telescope made by J & E Troughton. This telescope is famous for its beautiful brass parts from the late 1700s. It's also known as the Troughton Equatorial Telescope. This is because it sits on an equatorial mount, which helps it follow stars as they move across the sky.

The Observatory also has an Earnshaw Regulator. This is a very accurate type of clock. It was invented in 1791 by Thomas Earnshaw. Earnshaw himself traveled to Armagh to set up this clock in the new Observatory.

In the early 1800s, the Observatory had a mural circle instrument. This was used to measure the positions of stars. Another tool at the Observatory is a sunshine recorder. It measures how much sunshine there is each day.

In the 1830s, the Observatory bought a large 15-inch reflecting telescope. It was made by the Grubb Telescope Company. This telescope used a special metal mirror. It also had an equatorial mount with a clockwork-drive. This helped it track objects in the sky automatically.

In 1885, another telescope was installed. It was a ten-inch refracting telescope, also made by Grubb. This one was placed in the Robinson dome.

You can also find "meridian marks" near the Observatory. These look like stone arches or an iron obelisk. They were used to mark the exact north-south line. This helped astronomers set up their instruments correctly. The first meridian mark was built in 1793.

In 2005, two wide-angle cameras were installed. These cameras are part of a system to detect meteors.

Discoveries: Research at Armagh

Scientists at Armagh Observatory have studied many things. For example, in 2006, they looked at temperature records from Armagh. These records covered a long period, from 1844 to 2004. This research helps us understand how our climate is changing over time.

Leaders of the Observatory: List of Directors

See also

In Spanish: Observatorio de Armagh para niños

• Royal Astronomical Society
• Markree Observatory (Irish observatory 1830s-1900, discovered 9 Metis)
• List of astronomical observatories
• List of largest optical telescopes in the British Isles