Northern Ireland’s astronomical research and education centre, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, has created a new interactive outdoor activity further enhancing the experience it provides for visitors.
The astronomy-themed Cosmo Lost in Space trail is for children, whilst Astropark Journey, an augmented reality trail, is for an adult audience.
Young adventurers must follow the trail marked on a map to discover clues and locate the 11 Cosmo Lost in Space markers located along the route. Once all the clues have been collected, they will be able to decipher a secret code word to help Cosmo launch his spaceship and return home.
Astropark Journey is a self-led tour of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s Astropark, which is a natural outdoor setting in which there is a scale model of the universe. The technology for the interactive trail is downloadable to personal mobile phones via a QR code obtainable within the Planetarium.
A journey through the Astropark is a chance to learn about the cosmos and our place in space as well as the ground-breaking research and discoveries made in Armagh Observatory, and how it has been measuring the weather every day since 1795.
The Astropark has also been made more accessible, with new signage in braille, additional paths and seating areas, and a panoramic viewing gallery within an ecology area that overlooks the city of Armagh.
The new trails add to the range of events and experiences already available at the Planetarium. These include a variety of shows in its dome theatre that explore the wonders of the universe as well as an extensive exhibition area.