– Family Friendly Events to Take Place on Site at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium From 26 to 28 January 2023 –
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has announced that a number of family friendly events will take place on site from 26 to 28 January 2023.
These will be:
A Star Tracker evening, which will take place on 26th January. Suitable for adults and children aged over eight, this two-hour event will include a talk on ‘Big Telescopes’ by Armagh Observatory and planetarium PhD student, Christopher Duffy. The talk will be followed by a Dome Show and live stargazing (weather permitting.)
The Legendary Telescope Tours, which will take place on Saturday 28th January. These 90-minute tours will run at 1pm and 3pm. Suitable for adults and children over ten, they will take visitors on a journey through the Armagh Observatory to see its historic telescopes.
An expert guide will tell visitors about the telescopes and how they were used for pioneering science in the past.
Visitors will be able to have their picture taken with the Grubb 10-inch telescope that was used to create a fundamental star catalogue still used by astronomers today. They will also have a chance to view the century-old Calver telescope and hear unique stories, discovering why Armagh is a truly celestial city.
A Grade A listed heritage building and a global centre for astronomical research, Armagh Observatory opened in 1790. It is the oldest observatory in the UK and Ireland continuously in use for its original purpose. There are four generations of historic telescopes inside the Observatory that remain in their original settings, as well as one modern telescope that is still in use.
Ria Mee, Senior Education Officer at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, says, “We are excited to kick off the new year with some great events for all the family here at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium.
“As a globally recognised centre for research into astronomy, we hope that by providing compelling, age-appropriate content, we can both entertain and inspire the STEM leaders of the future.”
The Legendary Telescope Tours include general admission to the Planetarium exhibition.
To book tickets for these events, visit: https://armaghobservatoryplanetarium.ticketsolve.com