Armagh Planetarium

Armagh Planetarium
College Hill
Armagh
Co. Armagh
BT61 9DB
Northern Ireland

Website

www.armaghplanet.com

E-mail

info@armaghplanet.com

Telephone

Booksings line for public, group and school visits

028 3752 3689

Administration queries

028 3752 4725

Fax

028 3752 6187

All information is drawn or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
Exterior of Planetarium
baby changing facilities icon Food icon Guided tours icon Hearing disability facilities icon Visual disability facilities icon Wheelchair access icon

The Planetarium is a multifaceted organisation dedicated to astronomy education for all levels, from nursery through to retirement age. It is the Planetarium's unique ability to adapt to changing audience needs that have enabled it to stay at the forefront of science education since its formation.

Armagh Planetarium offers a curriculum-broadening experience for school visitors, and our educational programme has been redesigned to dovetail with the new curriculum, while retaining characteristics which are central to an understanding of basic astronomy.

Our aim is to demonstrate to our visitors the amazing objects that exist in the cosmos, but to do it in such a way that they do not see our efforts as formal teaching. We call this “Learning by Stealth”. When they are prompted to ask questions, they are engaging in the learning process.

All of our school theatre shows are interactive, so that presenters and pupils take an active part in the show. Follow up tasks back in the classroom are facilitated by downloadable PDFs and astronomical factsheets for teachers to use as supplementary teaching material.

Venue Type:

Museum, Science centre

 Opening hours

Summer Hours
Saturday 4th July 2009 - 31st August 2009
Mon - Sun 11:30-17:00

Shows playing at 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00 & 16.00

Evening Opening
Last Thursday in every month 19.00-21.00
(show playing 19:30)

Closed Mon throughout the year. Closed Sun during off-peak season. Please check website for details.

 Admission charges

Exhibition Area only: £2.00

Show and Exhibitions
Adults: £6.00
Children Under 16: £5.00
Senior Citizens: £5.00
Family Ticket: £18.00 (2 adults & 3 children)

10% discount for additional shows

 Links

Additional info

The Digital Theatre is the centrepiece of Armagh Planetarium, and with the Digistar 3 projection system we can take our visitors to anywhere in the universe - or any time. There are a variety of shows on offer. For more information please check our website or contact us by telephone. Advance booking is essential!

Collection details

Natural Sciences, Science and Technology

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.
 Face to face resources

Stardome Portable Planetarium Outreach Visits

http://www.armaghplanet.com/html/StarDome.html

The StarDome inflatable portable planetarium travels throughout Ireland to delight and educate audiences of all ages. It stands 12 feet high and can accommodate up to 30 children or 25 adults. The audience enters through the air lock and sits on the floor, enjoying a trip around the night sky as the StarDome presenter projects the heavens. All shows are live and the audience is actively encouraged to ask questions.
StarDome show themes are tailored to suit the particular needs of an audience, and can incorporate topics such as the Solar System, Greek mythology, meteorites and living in space.

How to obtain

A typical show lasts for 40 minutes, depending on the age of the audience. Schools can expect to have at least 120 children (30 x 4 shows) to participate in presentations during a single day.
StarDome can be hired for full and half days or for festivals. Please contact the Planetarium for current prices on 028 3752 3689.

'Underneath the Stars' KS3 Workshops at Armagh Planetarium

http://www.armaghplanet.com/html/post_primary.html

The Planetarium runs activities and workshops supporting the KS3 curriculum, which encourages pupils to use communication, mathematicaI and ICT skills, manage information and solve problems in groups. Pupils are encouraged to ask questions about the cosmos, understand the Solar System and the structure of the Universe.

Workshop activities cover exploring the Universe, human and robotic exploration of the Solar System, using Earth- and space-based telescopes to see to the edge of the known Universe, and the technical problems of space flight.

Our inspirational show about the Christmas Star complements the Religious Education unit of the new NI Curriculum.

How to obtain

For more information and to make a booking please call 028 3752 3689.

 Boxes, objects and other kit

Educational Visits to the Planetarium for Pupils with Special Needs

http://www.armaghplanet.com/html/special_needs.html

The Planetarium offers Special Needs visitors the opportunity to explore astronomy and space science and to see the spectacular objects from the Solar System and beyond, at a level appropriate to the pupil’s abilities.
We would recommend a show and then a workshop which can involve all of the children in a hands-on activity. Rocket workshops are especially suitable, although they are weather dependent.
Follow up visits to the school can be arranged to explore other aspects of science and help the children to enjoy discovering simple scientific principles for themselves.

How to obtain

The small class sizes in Special Needs Schools makes it easier for Planetarium staff to work with the children and young adults: we can modify our visit to suit you. Special Needs teachers are encouraged to come along and see what we can do. For more information and to make a booking please call 028 3752 3689.

Key Stage 1 Educational Programme

http://www.armaghplanet.com/html/primary.html

During their Planetarium visit, Year 3 and 4 primary school pupils take part in an interactive Solar System show. The show includes a visual explanation of how the Moon's appearance changes in the sky as it waxes and wanes. After the show, the children then take part in a workshop which tells them all about the planet Mars and then asks them to design their own Martian Mission Patch. Other workshops include Rocks from Space, where they are shown how the Moon became covered in craters and get to make some craters of their own.

How to obtain

For more information and to make a booking please call 028 3752 3689.

Key Stage 2 Educational Programme

http://www.armaghplanet.com/html/primary.html

Pupils take part in an interactive show exploring the Solar System, then a workshop to design a landing system allowing a safe descent for an “Eggstronaut”. They can also explore the Exhibition Areas, and see and touch the largest meteorite on display in Ireland. Pupils can hold smaller meteorites, discuss how they formed and what might happen if a meteoroid was on a collision course with Earth. They can make impact craters and learn how an asteroid strike 65 million years ago wiped out the dinosaurs. Our workshops are designed to make children think about the consequences of celestial events.

How to obtain

For more information and to make a booking please call 028 3752 3689.

 Paper-based and downloads

Posters, Star Charts and Activity Booklets

http://www.armaghplanet.com/html/free_stuff.html

Free downloadable software, educational booklets, posters and star charts.

Creator

  • Colin Johnston

Publisher

  • Belfast Telegraph
advertisement