Editing Armagh Observatory (section)

==History==
The Observatory is located close to the centre of the city of Armagh, adjacent to the [[Armagh Planetarium]] in approximately {{convert|14|acre|m2}} of landscaped grounds known as the Armagh Astropark. It was founded in 1789 by [[The Most Reverend|The Most Rev.]] and [[Right Honourable|Rt Hon.]] [[Richard Robinson, 1st Baron Rokeby|The 1st Baron Rokeby]], [[Church of Ireland]] [[Primate of All Ireland|Lord Primate of All Ireland]] and [[Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)|Lord Archbishop of Armagh]].

In 1795 through 1797 Solar observations were made at Armagh, including measurements of [[sunspot]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Arlt|first=R.|s2cid=55309719|date=2009|title=The solar observations at Armagh Observatory in 1795–1797|journal=Astronomische Nachrichten|language=en|volume=330|issue=4|pages=311–316|doi=10.1002/asna.200911195|bibcode=2009AN....330..311A|issn=1521-3994|doi-access=free}}</ref>

[[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.

One of the observatory's directors, [[Thomas Romney Robinson]] invented the [[Cup-anemometer|cup anemometer]], a device for measuring wind speed.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Winn |first=Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GZHxXRyTYkgC&q=Armagh+Observatory+telescopes&pg=PA236 |title=I Never Knew that About Ireland |date=2007-03-06 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=9780312368807 |language=en}}</ref>

A plan was announced in 1949 to establish an [[Armagh Planetarium]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title=1976IrAJ...12..204G Page 204|bibcode = 1976IrAJ...12..204G| last1=Grew | first1=Sheelagh | journal=Irish Astronomical Journal | year=1976 | volume=12 | page=204 }}</ref> After many years work the Planetarium opened in 1968, its first director was [[Patrick Moore]]. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/2018/05/04/news/armagh-planetarium-marks-50th-anniversary-1320702/|title=Armagh Planetarium marks 50th anniversary|date=3 May 2018 }}</ref>

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.<ref name=":0" />

In modern times the Observatory along with the nearby Planetarium and 14-acre Astropark are noted tourist attraction and education centre. The gardens, historical telescopes, and various astronomically related devices such as sundials are among some of the exhibits for visitors.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Armagh Observatory, Armagh |url=https://discovernorthernireland.com/Armagh-Observatory-Armagh-P3286/ |access-date=2019-10-31 |website=discovernorthernireland.com |language=en-gb |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031192216/https://discovernorthernireland.com/Armagh-Observatory-Armagh-P3286/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Irish historical observatories seek UNESCO status |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0418/1508329-astronomical-observatories-unesco/ |website=www.rte.ie |publisher=RTÉ |date=2025-04-18 | access-date=2025-04-20}}</ref>