Welcome to Astronotes
Hello, I’m Colin, welcoming you to Astronotes, the Planetarium’s official blog. Here you will find the latest news and views from the fascinating worlds of astronomy and space exploration. We hope you will come here to learn what is hot and exciting, profound or even weird from worlds beyond ours . So that's the introduction out of the way, now on with the Universe!
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astronomy history Archive
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8 Facts You Need to Know About the 2012 Transit of Venus
Posted on May 1, 2012 | No CommentsIt’s the beautiful clear morning of 6 June 2012 here in Armagh and the Sun is rising into a cerulean blue sky.But look closer, and you can see a tiny... -
The Other Sirius Mystery: Red or White
Posted on April 27, 2012 | No CommentsToday Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky is an unmistakable blue-white in colour although it does twinkle a lot and can appear to change colour. However no one... -
Astronomer, Musician, Hero…Deserter?
Posted on February 24, 2012 | 1 CommentSir Frederick William Herschel is one of the most well-known and highly regarded historical astronomers but many may not know or realise there was more to his genius than his... -
Venus: Earth’s Sister Planet
Posted on January 17, 2012 | No CommentsVenus has always been regarded as Earth’s Sister Planet. After all, it can be the closest planet to us and it is nearly the same size as Earth. But how... -
2012′s Space Odysseys
Posted on January 5, 2012 | 3 CommentsWhat exciting space events has 2012 in store for us? What important space anniversaries are coming up this year? Welcome to our annual guide to what the Universe has waiting... -
Professor Moriarty: a Great but Forgotten Astronomer
Posted on December 15, 2011 | 4 CommentsJames Moriarty (?-1891) was one of the greatest of the many astronomer-mathematicians who flourished in the nineteenth century, however among the general public his scientific accomplishments are forgotten. Mention his... -
6 Theories about the Star of Bethlehem
Posted on November 10, 2011 | 4 CommentsWhat was the Star of Bethlehem? Recorded only in the Gospel of Matthew, this mysterious celestial object is said to have heralded the Nativity. For millennia stargazers have wondered what... -
Our Place in the Expanding Universe
Posted on October 20, 2011 | No CommentsOur galaxy, the Milky Way, is just one of an enormous number of galaxies spread throughout a vast Universe, which is expanding. Everyone knows these facts now, but how do... -
The Mysterious Heart of the Crab
Posted on October 7, 2011 | 1 CommentThe debris from a vast cosmic explosion, the Crab Nebula in Taurus is a well-known spectacle. But what is it and how was it formed? On 4 July 1054... -
As Far as Our Eyes Can See
Posted on September 29, 2011 | No CommentsIn more than twenty years of hard work, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has made both beautiful images and profound discoveries, sometimes doing both at the same time. What are...