Armagh Observatory
Encyclopedia
Armagh Observatory is a modern astronomical research institute with a rich heritage, based in Armagh
, Northern Ireland
. Around 25 astronomers are actively studying stellar astrophysics, the Sun
, Solar System
astronomy, and the Earth's climate
.
The Observatory is located close to the centre of the city of Armagh, adjacent to the Armagh Planetarium
in approximately 14 acres (56,656 m²) of landscaped grounds known as the Armagh Astropark, and was founded in 1789 by Richard Robinson
, Archbishop of Armagh.
Ernst Julius Öpik (grandfather of Lembit Öpik
MP) 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.
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
.
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Around 25 astronomers are actively studying stellar astrophysics, the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
, Solar System
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
astronomy, and the Earth's climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
.
The Observatory is located close to the centre of the city of Armagh, adjacent to the Armagh Planetarium
Armagh Planetarium
Armagh Planetarium is a planetarium located in Armagh, Northern Ireland close to the city centre and neighbouring Armagh Observatory in approximately fourteen acres of landscaped grounds known as the Armagh Astropark.- History :...
in approximately 14 acres (56,656 m²) of landscaped grounds known as the Armagh Astropark, and was founded in 1789 by Richard Robinson
Richard Robinson, 1st Baron Rokeby
Richard Robinson, 1st Baron Rokeby was an Irish ecclesiastic.Robinson came to Ireland as chaplain to the Duke of Dorset in 1751. He was translated from the See of Kildare to the Archbishopric of Armagh in 1765....
, Archbishop of Armagh.
Ernst Julius Öpik (grandfather of Lembit Öpik
Lembit Öpik
Lembit Öpik is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Montgomeryshire in Wales from 1997 until he lost his seat in the 2010 General Election...
MP) 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.
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
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
.
List of Directors
| 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 Eric Mervyn Lindsay Eric Mervyn Lindsay was an Irish astronomer.He was born at The Grange near Portadown, County Armagh in Ireland to Richard and Susan Lindsay. He was educated in Dublin at the King's Hospital School, then attended Queen's University, Belfast where he earned his B.Sc. in 1928 and a M.Sc. in 1929... |
1937 - 1974 |
| Mart de Groot | 1976 - 1994 |
| Mark E. Bailey | 1995 - |