Editing Cork Institute of Technology (section)

=== CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory ===
[[File:Blackrock Castle Cork.jpg|thumb|200 px|CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory]]
Blackrock Castle was originally built on the [[River Lee (Ireland)|River Lee]] in 1582 by the citizens of Cork as a watch tower and fort, assuring trade ships of a safe haven, the Elizabethan government of the era ordering a round tower constructed to protect against marauding pirates and other invaders. Following a charter by James I in 1608, Blackrock Castle was handed over to the City of Cork. In 1722 the old tower was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt with an octagonal room topped with a cupola. The castle was used at this time as the Corporation banquet hall. In 1827 the castle was again destroyed by fire, before being rebuilt a year later, three additional storeys and out-buildings being added at that time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blackrock Castle Observatory |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831153645/http://www.corkheritageopenday.ie/thebuildings/educationalbuildings/buildings/mainbody,12203,en.html |archive-date=31 August 2009 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.corkheritageopenday.ie/thebuildings/educationalbuildings/buildings/mainbody,12203,en.html |website=CorkHeritageOpenDay.ie |access-date=6 November 2018 }}</ref> In 2002 the castle underwent an extensive refurbishment programme, and in August 2007, Blackrock Castle was re-opened to the public as the CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discoverireland.com/us/ireland-things-to-see-and-do/listings/product/?fid=FI_48767|title=See & Do|website=Discoverireland.com|access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>

''Cosmos at the Castle'' is an interactive astronomy exhibit that takes place at the observatory, featuring four cinema sized screens that share information with visitors on the Big Bang, the evolution of life on Earth, and the existence of extraterrestrial life in the Universe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bco.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=21 |title=Home – BCO: CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory|website=BCO: CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory|access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>

The observatory also houses a team of astronomical researchers and scientists from CIT, most of which are engaged in the development of new technologies designed for searching for planets around distant stars, a project known as the Planet Search Programme. Most of the researchers come from the Astronomy and Instrumentation Group, based within the Department of Applied Physics and Instrumentation at CIT.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myguideireland.com/blackrock-castle-observatory|title=Blackrock Castle Observatory|website=Myguideireland.com|access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>

The observatory features a rooftop 16" Meade reflector telescope. A monthly remote astronomy schools project is run at the observatory. The project is entitled Web of Stars, and is run in conjunction with the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California.<ref name="bco.ie"/>

CIT is the Irish partner in the Comenius funded European Union Hands on Universe project. This project trains teachers to use real astronomy data in the classroom to support the teaching of science and mathematics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bco.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=67|title=Home – BCO: CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory|website=BCO: CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory|access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>

The castle hosted the 2011 Collaborative European Research Conference. In May 2011, a partnership between CIT and the National Space Centre was announced. The partnership saw the 32-metre satellite dish at [[Elfordstown Earthstation]] in Midleton, Co Cork, start a new life as a Deep Space Radio Telescope.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0510/1224296602827.html |title=Giant satellite phone dish to be turned into space radio telescope |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref> The Deep Space Radio Telescope will{{update inline|date=May 2020}} be capable of detecting a host of cosmic phenomena. The dish was originally constructed in 1984 to take transatlantic telephone calls from Europe to the US, and was retired from use in the mid-1990s when the underground transatlantic cables were laid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cit.ie/currentnews?id=217 |archive-date=23 July 2011  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723205055/http://www.cit.ie/currentnews?id=217 |title=First Fridays at the Castle: Celebrating the Space Shuttle > 1st July |url-status=live |date=20 June 2011 |website=Cork Institute of Technology |access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>