1. EUNAWE at Armagh
Observatory
Bringing “Heaven” Down to Earth
Mark E. Bailey
Armagh Observatory
meb@arm.ac.uk
http://star.arm.ac.uk/
http://climate.arm.ac.uk/

2. Location of Armagh Observatory
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

3. Why Astronomy?!
Three main strands of interest
• the broadly cosmological, “quasi-religious” strand, going
back thousands of years
! the quest to understand our “Origins”, Man’s place in the Universe
• the “practical” strand, the commercial, military, and economic
“spin-off” from astronomy, including education and the arts
! e.g. the Calendar; Navigation; Celestial Mechanics; Earth
Observation; Image Processing; the “Inspiration” of Astronomy
• the strand of pure science or “Astrophysics”
! the project, no less, to understand the nature, contents and
interactions of all the objects in the entire Universe…
We live in a Golden Age, where the three strands have
come together in a rare conjunction of activity
• hence unprecedented advances in both observation and
theory (the former almost always leading the latter)
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

4. Examples of Early “Astronomy”
Cup-and-ring marks on stones at
Knockmany, Co. Tyrone (Ulster
Museum); Cometary rock-carving
from Midlothian, Scotland (National
Museum Antiquities, Edinburgh);
Midwinter sunset at Stonehenge,
EUNAWE - Leiden 2009
2011 April 1

5. Astronomy Research at Armagh
Around 30 astronomers actively study the Solar System; the Sun;
Stars; and Sun-Earth Interrelationships including Climate
EUNAWE - Leiden Images courtesy NASA, ESA, Jorick Vink et al.
2011 April 1

6. Recent Discoveries: Meteors
Meteors — from Comets
• dust released from comet
! spreads around orbit and so
collides with Earth every year
• => annual meteor showers
• but also rare “meteor storms”
New understanding
• very fine dust “trails” laid
down at every revolution of
comet
• sometimes they cross
Earth’s path, sometimes not
! => can predict exact crossing
points in space
! can work out if and when a
“meteor storm” may occur to
five-minute accuracy
EUNAWE - Leiden Images: Comet Donati (1858); Great Leonid Meteor
2011 April 1 Storm (1833); Times of Meteor Storms (David Asher)

7. Recent Discoveries: Solar Physics
How to Explain the
Sun’s Non-Thermal
“Magnetic” Activity?
•space observations of
explosions and high-
speed outflows (jets and
coronal mass-ejections)
from solar surface;
•use observations and
theory to determine
plasma properties and
magnetic field strengths;
•gain new understanding
of the Sun’s dynamic
outer atmosphere and
corona
EUNAWE - Leiden Images courtesy SoHO and Hinode space projects
2011 April 1 (ESA, NASA, Japan)

8. Recent Discoveries: Stellar Physics
Single Stars
• evolve to red giants, white dwarfs and
die
Binary Stars: !50% of All Stars
• very complex evolution
• can interact with each other
• can coalesce
! => a testing ground for current
theories
! and a test of modern theories of
gravity (General Relativity)
Images: Origin of helium star V652 Her (Simon Jeffery);
EUNAWE - Leiden Ultra-compact white-dwarf binary, radiating gravitational
2011 April 1 waves (Gavin Ramsay)

9. “Spin-Off” from Astronomy
Numerous examples, illustrated by two cases specific to
the Armagh Observatory:
!Meteorology: the unique long-term climate series
• a daily climate series extending back more than 200 years;
see http://climate.arm.ac.uk/
"Science in the Community: a multi-strand programme
to engage people — young and old — in science
• e.g. school work-experience and summer programme;
schools outreach programme (OASES); open days; public
lectures; scientific conferences; Faulkes telescope projects;
scientific conferences; Universe Awareness (UNAWE);
development of Observatory Grounds and Astropark;
creation of Human Orrery etc.
=> Economic and social benefits to community
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

10. Climate Change at Armagh
Daily met readings since 1795
• longest daily meteorological
series from a single site
anywhere in the UK and
Ireland
! Temperature 1795–present
! Pressure 1795–present
! Rainfall 1838–present
! Sunshine hours 1882–present
! Wind speed 1845–1960
! Clouds 1884–present
• temperature changes closely
track UK averages
! data show correlation between
solar cycle length and mean
temperature
John Butler: Sun-Earth correlation
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

11. Science in the Community - I
Exhibitions; Public Lectures;
Guided Tours; Public Open Days
• library, archives and rare
books
• public lectures, school and
undergraduate work
experience
• developing Observatory
Grounds, Astropark, and
Human Orrery
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

12. Science in the Community - II
Schools Lectures; Public Art; FETTU Posters; “Universe Awareness”
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2011 April 1

13. Observatory Grounds and Astropark
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2011 April 1

14. Overview of Human Orrery
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2011 April 1

15. The Human Orrery
An orrery is a dynamic solar system model
• designed to illustrate the heliocentric world-
view
In a Human Orrery people become the planets
• the whole of solar system astronomy can be
investigated in a fun way “on the ground”
The simplest Human Orreries are not to scale
• e.g. planets on circular orbits; no accurate link to
the planets’ true positions in space versus time
! => only a limited range of activities possible
They become more interesting when laid
out with greater care
• e.g. the Dynic Astropark Human Orrery (Japan)
The Human Orrery is as versatile as a sundial
• the Armagh model has an accurate scale of 1:150
billion, and a fixed time-step of 16 days
! it shows the 6 classical planets,1 asteroid and
2 comets at any time
! it includes the 13 ecliptic constellations, as well Dynic Astropark Human
as directions to more distant objects in the Orrery (c.1997)
Universe
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

16. Why “Orrery”?
Invented around 1704 by George
Graham (c.1674–1751)
• he gave a copy (or its design) to John
Rowley, a celebrated London instrument
maker
Rowley made a copy for Prince Eugéne
of Savoy
• he then made another for his patron,
Charles Boyle, the fourth Earl of Orrery
Charles Boyle (1674–1731)
• author, soldier and statesman
• grandson of Roger Boyle (1621–1679),
the first Earl of Orrery
! a son of Richard Boyle, the first (or Great)
Earl of Cork (1566–1643)
! in his day, “one of the richest men on the
planet”
The name “orrery” for such a model was
popularized by the Irish essayist Sir Images © Science Museum
Richard Steele (1672–1729) and National Portrait Gallery
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

17. Ground-Based Astronomy for All…
Each orbital tile shows various
astronomical data
• the name; tile number; date;
distance from Sun; ecliptic
longitude; and true anomaly
With a simple “key” shown on
the central Sun-tile
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

18. Principal Features
The Armagh Human Orrery shows:
• the elliptical orbits and changing positions of
various solar system objects versus time
! provides an accurate “map” of the solar system,
giving users a better “feel” for the Earth’s
position in space
! enables all of Kepler’s laws to be discovered by
direct measurement; the times of meteor
showers from the two comets; and more…
• the relative orbital periods and positions of the
different orbital objects
• the thirteen ecliptic constellations through
which the Sun passes in a year
! which ones are visible at different times of year
! and that the First Point of Aries is in Pisces!
• the directions to more distant objects in the
Universe
! facilitating discussion of the variety of different
“animals” in the astronomical “zoo”
Most important, it is fun to use!
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

19. Some Human Orrery Activities
“Walking the Orrery” and “Running the Orrery”
(and how fast can you go…)
• investigating Kepler’s third law
Finding the planets “tonight” (or at any other date)
• and discovering which can be seen after dark at
night, or as morning or evening stars
• investigating conjunctions, oppositions and
alignments; and the visibility of distant stars
Measuring angles and distances between objects
• working out distances and speeds in space
• investigating Kepler’s laws by direct
measurement
• investigating the mathematics of orbital motion
and of ellipses (areas, circumferences etc.)
• using a “map” with a scale of 1:150,000,000,000
Learning new mathematical and calendrical
concepts
• counting (more than 200 tiles!)
• modular arithmetic (e.g. 14 tiles for Venus etc.)
• ratios of planetary orbital periods (e.g 8/13 V/E)
• “leap steps”, “leap stops” and Leap Years
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

20. Human Orrery Summary
The Armagh Human Orrery (www.arm.ac.uk/orrery/)
• a dynamic solar system model where people become the
moving objects
• the first outdoor exhibit to show with precision the orbits
and positions of the main solar system bodies
• engages people in maths, space science and astronomy
! introduces key concepts of astronomy, as well as pointers to more
distant objects in the Universe, in a fun and entertaining way
• brings “heaven down to Earth”; provides an improved
understanding of Earth’s changing position in space
! encourages people to observe the sky, and to compare what they
see from “Earth” — on the ground — with what they see from
Earth — in the sky
• facilitates a wide range of interdisciplinary activities
! e.g. ranging from history, astrology and the development of
astronomy, to dance, physical exercise and design
• easy to make and use, and as versatile as a sundial
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

21. Earth: The Blue Planet
EUNAWE - Leiden Images Courtesy NASA
2011 April 1

22. A Small Asteroid
Image of asteroid (25143) Itokawa.
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1 d ! 500m. Image courtesy JAXA.

23. Artists’ Images of Two Bright Comets
EUNAWE - Leiden Drawings of the Comet of 1577
2011 April 1 and Comet Hale-Bopp (1997)

24. Great Comet of January 2007
EUNAWE - Leiden Image of Comet 2006 P1 McNaught.
2011 April 1 Image courtesy R. McNaught

25. Cartoon of Halley’s Comet (c.1910)
EUNAWE - Leiden Halley’s Comet Cartoon c.1910
2011 April 1

26. Models for Structure of Oort Cloud
Where Comets Come From:
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1 Structure of the Oort Cloud

27. The Solar System’s Gas Giants
Pairs of Gas Giants in Solar System:
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1 Jupiter and Saturn; Uranus and Neptune

28. Terrestrial Planets and Pluto
EUNAWE - Leiden Relative Sizes of Terrestrial Planets
2011 April 1 (University of California, Irvine)

29. Gas Giants Compared with Earth
EUNAWE - Leiden Relative Sizes of Outer Planets
2011 April 1 (University of California, Irvine)

30. The Sun and Planets
EUNAWE - Leiden Relative Sizes of Sun and Planets
2011 April 1 (University of California, Irvine)

31. The Sun and Nearby Stars
EUNAWE - Leiden Relative Sizes of Nearby Stars
2011 April 1 (University of California, Irvine)

32. Some of the Brightest Nearby Stars
EUNAWE - Leiden Relative Sizes of Brightest Stars
2011 April 1 (University of California, Irvine)

33. Betelgeuse: Size and Place in Space
EUNAWE - Leiden
Betelgeuse: One of the Nearest,
2011 April 1 Brightest Stars

34. The Andromeda Nebula
EUNAWE - LeidenM31, The Andromeda Nebula: Nearest Galaxy to
2011 April 1 our Milky Way (!2.5 million light years)

35. As Far as the Eye Can See…
EUNAWE - Leiden
The Hubble Deep Field and the Hubble
2011 April 1 Ultra Deep Field (NASA/ESA)

36. Summary and Conclusions
Armagh Observatory a unique scientific institution
• combines frontline astronomical research with a vibrant programme of
Science in the Community and a rich scientific heritage
• e.g contains a specialist library and archive; a national-level museum
collection of historic clocks, telescopes and scientific instruments
Current research focuses on Solar System Astronomy;
the Sun; Stars and Galactic Astronomy; and Climate
Change
• advances especially in cometary and meteor astronomy,
are beginning to provide a framework for understanding
mankind’s apparent early “obsession” with the sky
The Observatory’s programmes of Science in the
Community make major contributions to education
• especially by developing the Grounds, Astropark, Human
Orrery and Phenology Garden
• helps people to understand science, and especially
astronomy, by ‘Bringing “Heaven” Down to Earth’
EUNAWE - Leiden
2011 April 1

37. Acknowledgements
Astronomy at Armagh Observatory is funded
by the Northern Ireland Department of
Culture, Arts and Leisure
meb@arm.ac.uk
http://star.arm.ac.uk/
http://climate.arm.ac.uk/