Balbriggan Observatory
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
Balbriggan Observatory sits in County Dublin, Ireland, a public-facing astronomy and planetarium facility known locally for its outreach work and appearances on BBC's Sky at Night.
About Balbriggan Observatory
The observatory holds the official Minor Planet Center designation MPC-J09 and is run by Carl O'Beirne, a prominent Irish astronomer and astrophotographer. Alongside its observation facility, Balbriggan Observatory runs a planetarium component and a mobile planetarium that takes astronomy shows out to schools and community groups across the region.
Telescopes & research
The observatory combines astronomical research with a strong focus on public education, and its work and director have featured repeatedly on BBC's Sky at Night.
Location & getting there
Balbriggan is a coastal town in County Dublin, in Ireland's Leinster region. Use the map and directions on this page to plan your route.
Visiting Balbriggan Observatory
The observatory and its mobile planetarium run public education shows; check current listings for scheduled sessions before travelling.
See your named star from here
An observatory built around public astronomy education is a natural place to look for a star named specially for someone. Name a star and check the catalogue for its exact coordinates.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
