Tour of Armagh Observatory and Astropark, Armagh

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This guided tour (lasting approximately 90 minutes) of the main Observatory building, the Human Orrery and the Astropark. The Observatory is a modern scientific research institute with a rich heritage. It is located close to the centre of the City of Armagh together with the Armagh Planetarium in approximately 14 acres of attractive, landscaped grounds known as the Armagh Astropark.

The Grounds and Astropark contain scale models of the Solar System and the Universe and a wide range of flora and fauna. Of particular interest is the Grade A listed building, constructed from 1789. The world famous Robinson Cup-anemometer, a device for measuring wind speed, which was invented in the 1840s by the Observatory’s third director, the Revd Dr Thomas Romney Robinson and the Human Orrery was the first of its kind to show with precision the relative positions of the planets at any time as well as two comets (Halley’s Comet and Encke’s Comet) and the first asteroid, namely Ceres, discovered on the first night of the nineteenth century, 1st January 1801.

During the tour you will hear something about the Observatory’s history, its current scientific research and its programmes of Science in the Community.

The tour will commence at Armagh Planetarium, College Hill, Armagh. We would ask that you arrive at least 10 minutes before the commencement time.

As this is an 18th Century building accessibility to certain areas may be restricted. If you have any special access requirements, please let us know when booking. Early booking advised.