Armagh Observatory facts for kids

Armagh Observatory is a special place in Armagh, Northern Ireland, where scientists study space and the sky. It's like a big science lab for astronomers! About 25 astronomers work here, learning about stars, the Sun, our Solar System, and even Earth's climate.

This observatory is famous for keeping amazing weather records. In 2018, it was celebrated for having 224 years of continuous weather information.

Discovering the Armagh Observatory

The Armagh Observatory is located near the center of Armagh city. It's right next to the Armagh Planetarium in a beautiful area called the Armagh Astropark. This park is about 14 acres (5.7 hectares) big.

The observatory was started in 1789 by a very important person named Richard Robinson, 1st Baron Rokeby. He was an Archbishop and wanted a place for scientific study.

Early Discoveries and Inventions

From 1795 to 1797, scientists at Armagh watched the Sun very closely. They even measured sunspots, which are dark spots on the Sun's surface.

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

One of the observatory's leaders, Thomas Romney Robinson, invented something very useful. He created the cup anemometer, which is a device that measures how fast the wind is blowing.

The Planetarium and Weather Records

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

The observatory received a special award in 2018. The World Meteorological Organisation recognized it for having 224 years of continuous weather recordings. These records go all the way back to 1794! Today, you can even find these old weather records online.

A Place for Visitors

Today, the Observatory, the Planetarium, and the Astropark are popular places to visit. They are also important centers for learning about space. Visitors can explore the gardens, see old telescopes, and look at devices like sundials.

In 2025, the Armagh Observatory, along with Dunsink Observatory and Birr Castle, was added to a special list. This is a step towards them becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means they are recognized as very important places for everyone to protect.

What You Can See at the Observatory

The Armagh Observatory has many cool things to see. There are models that show you the size of our Solar System and even the whole Universe! You can also find two sundials and historic telescopes.

There are also telescope domes and other exhibits outside. The Human Orrery, which is a model of the Solar System you can walk through, was opened in 2004. It's near the main Observatory building.

The Observatory also has a special library and old records. It has a collection of scientific tools and items that show how astronomy has grown over time. It's one of the best collections like this in the British Isles.

Amazing Instruments at Armagh

The observatory has many interesting instruments that scientists used to study the sky.

Telescopes and Clocks

In 1795, a special telescope was put into a dome. It was a 2½-inch refracting telescope made by J & E Troughton in London. It's famous for its beautiful brass parts from the late 1700s. It's also called the Troughton Equatorial Telescope because of how it's mounted to follow the stars.

The observatory also has an Earnshaw Regulator. This is a very accurate type of clock invented in 1791 by Thomas Earnshaw. He even traveled to Armagh himself to set it up!

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

In the 1830s, the observatory bought a 15-inch reflecting telescope from the Grubb Telescope Company. This telescope used a special metal mirror and could move with a clockwork system to track objects in the sky.

Later, in 1885, a larger ten-inch refracting telescope was installed. This one was also made by Grubb and placed in the Robinson dome.

Meridian Marks and Meteor Cameras

Around the observatory, you can find "meridian marks." 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.

More recently, in 2005, two wide-angle cameras were installed. These cameras are part of a system that helps detect meteors, which are small space rocks that burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

Who Led the Observatory?

Many talented people have led the Armagh Observatory over the years. Here is a list of its directors:

Since 2016, the observatory and planetarium have been led by one director:

More to Explore

• Royal Astronomical Society
• Markree Observatory (Another historic Irish observatory)
• List of astronomical observatories
• List of largest optical telescopes in the British Isles

See also

In Spanish: Observatorio de Armagh para niños