Editing Armagh Observatory

{{Short description|Astronomical research institute in Armagh, Northern Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2020}}
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{{primary sources|date=April 2017}}
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{{Infobox Observatory}}
'''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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/recognition-for-woman-who-preserved-unbroken-weather-record-at-armagh-observatory-1-8741208|title=Recognition for woman who preserved unbroken weather record at Armagh Observatory|website=www.newsletter.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-10-30}}</ref>

==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>

==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 [[Edward Troughton|Troughton]] was installed in a dome in 1795.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|title=Troughton, Thomas|date=2011-10-31|publisher=Oxford University Press|series=Benezit Dictionary of Artists|doi = 10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.b00185568}}</ref> The telescope was manufactured in London, and is noted for its late 18th century [[brass]] metal work.<ref name=":6" /> It is also known the Troughton Equatorial Telescope, for having an [[equatorial mount]]ing.<ref name=":6" />

The observatory has an Earnshaw Regulator.<ref name=":6" /> It is an accurate type of clock invented in 1791 by [[Thomas Earnshaw]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/treasuresofpower00meas|url-access=registration|quote=Earnshaw Regulator.|title=Treasures of the Powerhouse Museum|last1=Measham|first1=Terry|last2=Museum|first2=Powerhouse|date=1994-01-01|publisher=Powerhouse Publishing|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iy_sAAAAMAAJ&q=Armagh+Observatory&pg=PA17|title=Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society|last=Society|first=Royal Astronomical|date=1836|publisher=Priestley and Weale|language=en}}</ref> Another instrument at the observatory is a [[sunshine recorder]].<ref name=":0" />

In the 1830s the observatory bought a 15-inch reflecting telescope from the [[Grubb Telescope Company]].<ref name="Butler">{{cite journal |last1=Butler |first1=C. J. |title=The 15-inch Equatorial Reflector by Thomas Grubb at Armagh Observatory |journal=Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society |date=June 2016 |issue=129 |pages=2–9 |url=https://scientificinstrumentsociety.org/BulletinArticles_public/Bulletin129_Butler,C.J._15-inch-equatorial-by-Thomas-Grubb.pdf}}</ref> The telescope used a [[Speculum metal|speculum metal mirror]] mounted on an equatorial mount with clockwork-drive.<ref name=Butler />

In 1885, a ten-inch aperture refracting telescope was installed, also by Grubb.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/663882/view/armagh-10-inch-refractor-telescope-1885|title=Armagh 10-inch refractor telescope, 1885 - Stock Image - C025/0064|website=Science Photo Library|access-date=2019-10-31}}</ref> This was installed in the Robinson dome.<ref name=":2" />

Meridian marks can be found in the vicinity of the observatory, these look like stone arches, but were used to mark the location of the north-south line for the astronomical instruments. There is also another one in the form of an iron obelisk. The first meridian mark was built in 1793, and is in Tullyard, and it was used with the transit instrument.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Butler |first=John |date=2016-04-01 |title=Armagh Observatory's meridian marksARMAGH OBSERVATORY |url=https://academic.oup.com/astrogeo/article/57/2/2.27/2468648 |journal=Astronomy & Geophysics |language=en |volume=57 |issue=2 |pages=2.27–2.31 |doi=10.1093/astrogeo/atw073 |issn=1366-8781 |doi-access=free|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 2005, two wide-angle cameras for a meteor detection systems were installed.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Y3POvMXDcgC&q=Armagh+Observatory&pg=PA263|title=Advances in Meteoroid and Meteor Science|last1=Trigo-Rodriguez|first1=J. M.|last2=Rietmeijer|first2=F.|last3=Llorca|first3=Jordi|last4=Janches|first4=D.|date=2008-03-21|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9780387784199|language=en}}</ref>

==Research==
The records of temperature take at Armagh Observatory between 1844 and 2004 were analyzed in 2006 research paper.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20060050130|title=Examination of the Armagh Observatory Annual Mean Temperature Record, 1844-2004|date=July 2006 |last1=Wilson |first1=Robert M. |last2=Hathaway |first2=David H. }}</ref>

==List of directors==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ style="text-align: left;" | Directors of Armagh Observatory
|-
|  [[James Hamilton (priest, born 1748)|James Archibald Hamilton]]
| 1790 - 1815
|-
|  William Davenport
| 1815 - 1823
|-
|[[Thomas Romney Robinson]]
| 1823 - 1882
|-
|[[John Louis Emil Dreyer]]
|1882 - 1916
|-
| Joseph A. Hardcastle
|1917
|-
|[[Frederick William Archdall Ellison|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]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/armagh-planetarium-welcomes-new-director.html |title=Armagh Planetarium Welcomes New Director |access-date=2020-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414163834/http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/armagh-planetarium-welcomes-new-director.html |archive-date=2017-04-14 | date=1 August 2016 | publisher=Astronotes | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 2016 - 
|}

==See also==
*[[Royal Astronomical Society]]
*[[Markree Observatory]] (Irish observatory 1830s-1900, discovered [[9 Metis]])
*[[List of astronomical observatories]]
*[[List of largest optical telescopes in the British Isles]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|https://armagh.space/}}
*[http://www.aavso.org/visit-armagh-observatory A Visit to Armagh Observatory], AAVSO

{{Places of Interest in County Armagh}}
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[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1789]]
[[Category:Astronomical observatories in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Armagh (city)|Observatory]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in County Armagh]]
[[Category:Science museums in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Grade A listed buildings]]
[[Category:1789 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:Research institutes in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Astronomy institutes and departments]]
[[Category:World Heritage Tentative List]]