As one of only three International Dark Sky places in Ireland, and six in the UK, OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory is sitting pretty as NI's only area with this special scientific designation. Set in Davagh Forest, 14 miles from the Co. Tyrone town of Cookstown, it embraces its rural setting with an exhibition space and telescope trained on the light pollution-free night sky.
45min tours guide visitors through interactive info panels covering all sorts of space fun, from The Northern Lights (sometimes visible from NI) to Space Weather, Moongazing to The Life Cycle of Stars. VR headsets transport wearers onto the moon, into the International Space Station and through our Solar System. And from Oct-March etheral space-themed sound and vision videos are projected onto the building's facade.
A section on the nearby Beaghmore Stone Circles, NI's very own mini-Glastonbury, is included as a reminder of neolithic man's connection with the night sky. And a planned 3.5k Solar Walk will connect the building with this ancient mystery. As for the name OM, it was chosen to represent the 'Om' sound of our planet and space with a nod to the old Irish ogham alphabet.
A small gift shop and snack kiosk is available inside, and there's a children's play area outside and close by at the main entrance. The surrounding Davagh Forest has several excellent Mountain Bike trails.
45min tours guide visitors through interactive info panels covering all sorts of space fun, from The Northern Lights (sometimes visible from NI) to Space Weather, Moongazing to The Life Cycle of Stars. VR headsets transport wearers onto the moon, into the International Space Station and through our Solar System. And from Oct-March etheral space-themed sound and vision videos are projected onto the building's facade.
A section on the nearby Beaghmore Stone Circles, NI's very own mini-Glastonbury, is included as a reminder of neolithic man's connection with the night sky. And a planned 3.5k Solar Walk will connect the building with this ancient mystery. As for the name OM, it was chosen to represent the 'Om' sound of our planet and space with a nod to the old Irish ogham alphabet.
A small gift shop and snack kiosk is available inside, and there's a children's play area outside and close by at the main entrance. The surrounding Davagh Forest has several excellent Mountain Bike trails.
