Welcome to Astronotes
Hello, IтАЩm Colin, welcoming you to Astronotes, the PlanetariumтАЩs 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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Our Galaxy Archive
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![How big is the largest known star? Compared to planets, stars will always be the overall group winners in terms of superior size. When you look at the night sky […]](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/image-of-star-types-115x115.jpg "The Largest Stars in the Universe")
The Largest Stars in the Universe
Posted on March 14, 2012 | 23 CommentsHow big is the largest known star? Compared to planets, stars will always be the overall group winners in terms of superior size. When you look at the night sky […] -
![Beautiful colour images of nebulae grace astronomy books and websites and have spread to mainstream culture. They are now familar to the public but what are these gaudy celestial spectacles? […]](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Image-of-carina-nebula-115x115.jpg "What is a Nebula?")
What is a Nebula?
Posted on February 24, 2012 | 4 CommentsBeautiful colour images of nebulae grace astronomy books and websites and have spread to mainstream culture. They are now familar to the public but what are these gaudy celestial spectacles? […] -
![A new image of the Omega Nebula reveals amazing detail in a cosmic landscape of gas clouds, dust and newborn stars.€а Captured by the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the […]](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Image-of-the-Omega-Nebula-115x115.jpg "The Heart of the Omega Nebula: Image of the Month")
The Heart of the Omega Nebula: Image of the Month
Posted on January 6, 2012 | 1 CommentA new image of the Omega Nebula reveals amazing detail in a cosmic landscape of gas clouds, dust and newborn stars.€а Captured by the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the […] -
![What 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 […]](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Image-of-mystery-of-xmas-star-115x115.jpg "6 Theories about the Star of Bethlehem")
6 Theories about the Star of Bethlehem
Posted on November 10, 2011 | 19 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 […] -
![A clear night sky is a thing of beauty and wonder. Thousands of scattered stars twinkle in the darkness. What are the stars? How do they live and die? Could […]](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Image-of-NGC-3603-115x115.jpg "What are the stars?")
What are the stars?
Posted on October 14, 2011 | 2 CommentsA clear night sky is a thing of beauty and wonder. Thousands of scattered stars twinkle in the darkness. What are the stars? How do they live and die? Could […] -
![The 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 […]](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Image-of-Crab_Nebula-115x115.jpg "The Mysterious Heart of the Crab")
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 […] -
![A team of astronomers based at the European Southern Observatory have announced the discovery of more than 50 new exoplanets orbiting nearby stars. €аThis is the largest number of such […]](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Image-of-HD-85512-b-115x115.jpg "Have we found an alien Earth?")
Have we found an alien Earth?
Posted on September 15, 2011 | 2 CommentsA team of astronomers based at the European Southern Observatory have announced the discovery of more than 50 new exoplanets orbiting nearby stars. €аThis is the largest number of such […] -
![Once planets orbiting other stars were unknown as they could not be directly observed. Several decades ago one astronomer was certain he had found the planets of a nearby star […]](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Image-of-Red-Dwarf-companion-115x115.jpg "Barnard’s Star and its Phantom Planets")
Barnard’s Star and its Phantom Planets
Posted on August 4, 2011 | 2 CommentsOnce planets orbiting other stars were unknown as they could not be directly observed. Several decades ago one astronomer was certain he had found the planets of a nearby star […] -
![Once exoplanets, worlds orbiting other stars, were the stuff of science fiction but now we know of literally hundreds of real alien planets circling other stars. Astronomers can infer and […]](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Image-of-OGLE-2005-BLG-390L-b-115x115.jpg "Eight Record-breaking Exoplanets")
Eight Record-breaking Exoplanets
Posted on July 20, 2011 | 5 CommentsOnce exoplanets, worlds orbiting other stars, were the stuff of science fiction but now we know of literally hundreds of real alien planets circling other stars. Astronomers can infer and […] -
![Globular clusters, tightly packed masses of stars are dazzling celestial spectacles as shown by this new European Southern Observatory image. This dramatic image depicts Omega Centauri, one of 200 or […]](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Image-of-Omega-centauri-115x115.jpg "Image of the Month: 300,000 stars at once!")
Image of the Month: 300,000 stars at once!
Posted on June 10, 2011 | 2 CommentsGlobular clusters, tightly packed masses of stars are dazzling celestial spectacles as shown by this new European Southern Observatory image. This dramatic image depicts Omega Centauri, one of 200 or […]