Romney Robinson Memorial Dome
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The Romney Robinson Memorial Dome stands at Armagh Observatory in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, a Grade B1 listed structure built to honour one of the observatory's most influential directors.
About the Romney Robinson Memorial Dome
The dome was erected to commemorate Thomas Romney Robinson (1792-1882), the third director of Armagh Observatory, who led the institution for nearly 59 years from 1823 onward.
History
Inside the dome sits a Grubb 10-inch refractor telescope, built in 1885. It was this telescope that was used to compile the New General Catalogue (NGC), one of the most important reference catalogues in the history of astronomy. Robinson himself is remembered for compiling the Armagh catalogue of 5,345 stars from observations made between 1820 and 1854.
Location & getting there
The memorial dome is part of Armagh Observatory in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, a long-established site with a strong historical connection to positional astronomy.
Visiting the Romney Robinson Memorial Dome
As a heritage building within the wider Armagh Observatory grounds, visiting arrangements are best confirmed with Armagh Observatory directly or through its published visitor information before travelling.
See your named star from here
The Grubb refractor beneath this dome once helped catalogue thousands of stars; today, you can name one of your own. Name a star and find its coordinates in our catalogue.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
