Cademuir Observatory

Cademuir Observatory is a roll-off roof amateur observatory in Dalkey, in Leinster, Ireland, tucked into a residential garden that was once a rhubarb patch.

About Cademuir Observatory

The observatory is owned and operated by Albert White, who holds an MSc in Astronomy and co-founded Dark Sky Ireland. Its design was inspired by fellow astronomer Dave Grennan's observatory in Raheny, reflecting a close-knit community of Irish amateur astronomers who have built their own serious observing facilities at home.

History

Cademuir Observatory was built in the summer of 2012. It has since been assigned observatory code Z72 by the IAU Minor Planet Center, marking it as one of Ireland's officially recognised amateur observatories used for genuine astronomical observation and research.

Telescopes & research

As a roll-off roof design, the observatory's roof slides away to expose the telescope directly to the sky, a common and effective setup for dedicated amateur observatories. Its Minor Planet Center recognition reflects observing work that meets the standards used by professional astronomers tracking solar system objects.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in Dalkey, a coastal town in Leinster, Ireland, just south of Dublin, in a residential garden setting rather than a remote or elevated site.

Visiting Cademuir Observatory

As a private home observatory, Cademuir does not appear to run scheduled public visiting hours. For any outreach events or open nights, check Albert White's observatory blog or Dark Sky Ireland's channels for current information.

See your named star from here

An observatory precise enough to earn its own Minor Planet Center code is exactly the kind of setup that can track down a named star's exact coordinates. If you've named a star, its RA and Dec are ready to be found; or browse the star catalogue to choose one.