Armagh Observatory is an astronomical research institute in Armagh, Northern Ireland. Around 25 astronomers are based at the observatory, studying stellar astrophysics, the Sun, Solar System astronomy and Earth's climate.
In 2018, Armagh Observatory was recognized for having 224 years of unbroken weather records.
History
The Observatory is located close to the centre of the city of Armagh, adjacent to the Armagh Planetarium in approximately of landscaped grounds known as the Armagh Astropark. It was founded in 1789 by The Most Rev. and Rt Hon. The 1st Baron Rokeby, Church of Ireland Lord Primate of All Ireland and Lord Archbishop of Armagh.
In 1795 through 1797 Solar observations were made at Armagh, including measurements of sunspots.
The Estonian exile Ernst Öpik was based here for over 30 years and among his many contributions to astrophysics he wrote of the dangers of an asteroid impacting on the Earth.
One of the observatory's directors, Thomas Romney Robinson invented the cup anemometer, a device for measuring wind speed.
A plan was announced in 1949 to establish an Armagh Planetarium. After many years work the Planetarium opened in 1968, its first director was Patrick Moore. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018.
In 2018, the observatory was given an award by Centennial Weather Station Award from the World Meteorological Organisation for 224 years of unbroken weather recordings. The records go back to 1794 and are also made available on the internet in the early 21st century.
In 2025, the Irish Historic Astronomical Observatories, consisting of Dunsink Observatory, Birr Castle and Armagh Observatory, were added to the World Heritage Tentative List, a step towards becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Facilities
There are scale models of the Solar System and the Universe, two sundials and historic telescopes, as well as telescope domes and other outdoor exhibits. The Human Orrery, launched in 2004, is located close to the main Observatory building. The Observatory's specialist library and archives, and collections of scientific instruments and artefacts associated with the development of modern astronomy, represent one of the leading collections of its kind in the British Isles.
Instruments
A 2½ inch aperture refracting telescope by J & E Troughton was installed in a dome in 1795. The telescope was manufactured in London, and is noted for its late 18th century brass metal work. Earnshaw travelled with it to Armagh to set it up in the new Observatory.
In the early 1800s it was reported to have a mural circle instrument. Another instrument at the observatory is a sunshine recorder. The telescope used a speculum metal mirror mounted on an equatorial mount with clockwork-drive. This was installed in the Robinson dome.
In 2005, two wide-angle cameras for a meteor detection systems were installed.
Research
The records of temperature take at Armagh Observatory between 1844 and 2004 were analyzed in 2006 research paper.
List of directors
{| class="wikitable"
|+ style="text-align: left;" | Directors of Armagh Observatory
|-
| James Archibald Hamilton
| 1790 - 1815
|-
| William Davenport
| 1815 - 1823
|-
|Thomas Romney Robinson
| 1823 - 1882
|-
|John Louis Emil Dreyer
|1882 - 1916
|-
| Joseph A. Hardcastle
|1917
|-
|WFA Ellison
|1918 - 1936
|-
|Eric Mervyn Lindsay
|1937 - 1974
|-
|Mart de Groot
|1976 - 1994
|-
|Mark E. Bailey
| 1995 - 2016
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ style="text-align: left;" | Directors of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
|-
|Michael G. Burton
| 2016 -
|}
See also
- Royal Astronomical Society
- Markree Observatory (Irish observatory 1830s-1900, discovered the asteroid 9 Metis)
- List of astronomical observatories
- List of largest optical telescopes in the British Isles
References
External links
- A Visit to Armagh Observatory, AAVSO