At the Armagh Observatory & Planetarium (AOP) we have launched an augmented reality app with which you can Look Around our Astropark and learn more about space, the nature around you, and our history!
The AOP Look Around app will guide you through our Astropark grounds on two different types of outdoor trails. We will immerse you the natural beauty of our land, as well as emphasise the importance of our green spaces in the fight against climate change. Love our planet Earth and its place in the cosmos, whilst you look around the great outdoors.
Our children’s trail ‘Cosmo, Lost in Space’ will take you on an eco-journey around our grounds and woodland. Help Cosmo journey through space by following our accompanying workbook full of activities (available for purchase in the Planetarium), use your phone to explore augmented reality (AR) points in the grounds, find out about astronomical objects such as the Owl Nebula, and meet our sculptures along the way!
If you are more interested in space and the history and heritage of the site, choose our ‘Astropark Journey’ trail and follow the app around the grounds. You can find out more about Armagh’s rich astronomical research, how to use the Human Sundial and even find out about objects in the Observatory building! Look out for AR points along the way.
How To Use Our App
You can find the AOP Look Around app on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
To enable the full functionality of the app, you will need to enter a 4-digit code that you can find at the Planetarium reception during our opening times, and download some additional data (you can use our free visitor WiFi).
Once you choose your trail, you can click on any of the items to learn more about them – accompanied by even more information, or perhaps an activity, when you also find the location of the item and scan the relevant augmented reality marker.
The app will work on iPhone iOS 12.0 or later, iPad iPadOS 12.0 or later, and Android 7.0 or later.
Cosmo, Lost in Space
Cosmo needs your help to navigate space and find his way home! Pick up a workbook at the Planetarium, full of activities to complete, and follow Cosmo’s markers around our Astropark.
Look out for the special sculptures and photo opportunities along the way. Don’t forget to scan the AR images on the markers for extra information and games to play. Good luck on your journey!
Astropark Journey
If you have Looked Up, Looked Out, Looked Closer, and Looked Beyond in our Planetarium exhibition area, it is now time to Look Around!
Journey through our Astropark, learning about the cosmos and our place in space. Find out about the ground-breaking research and discoveries made in our Observatory, and even how we have been measuring the weather every day since 1795!
This project was supported by Tourism NI and the Department for Communities
