4.—(1) The Governors shall, for the purpose of developing and improving the knowledge, appreciation and practice of astronomy and related sciences, maintain and manage the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium and may take such other action as the Governors may think proper for the purpose of acquiring or disseminating knowledge relating to astronomy and related sciences.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the Governors may for the purposes of their functions under that paragraph—
(a)exercise any power heretofore exercisable by them by virtue of the Act of 1791 or any relevant trusts;
(b)provide, maintain and manage such facilities as appear to them to be complementary or ancillary to, or otherwise appropriate to be provided in association with, any facilities for the time being maintained and managed by them;
(c)accept gifts or bequests and execute any lawful trust having objects similar to the objects of the Governors or incidental or conducive to the attainment or furtherance of any of those objects;
(d)give assistance (including financial assistance) to bodies having objects similar to those of the Governors;
(e)make charges for goods and services provided by them;
(f)carry out, or assist in the carrying out of, research;
(g)provide information and advice;
(h)do all such other acts as appear to the Governors to be necessary or expedient for the performance of those functions or as are incidental to the carrying out of those functions.
(3) The Governors may allow premises owned or occupied by them to be used by other persons (for payment or otherwise) for purposes not connected with the functions of the Governors if the Governors are satisfied that to do so would not conflict unduly with those functions.
(4) Any property or right which but for this Order would have been held or exercisable by, or for the benefit of, the person holding the office referred to in the Act of 1791 as keeper (or astronomer and keeper) of the observatory and museum shall be held or exercisable by, or for the benefit of, the Governors for the purposes of their functions under this Order.