National Observatory of Athens

National Observatory of Athens
Εθνικό Αστεροσκοπείο Αθηνών (Greek)

Logo of the National Observatory of Athens
Motto	Servare Intaminatum
Established	1842 (1842)
Research type	Basic,Applied
Field of research	Astronomy Physics
Director	Manolis Plionis
Location	Athens, Greece 37°58′24.2″N 23°43′5.6″E / 37.973389°N 23.718222°E / 37.973389; 23.718222
Website	http://www.noa.gr

National Observatory of Athens

The National Observatory sits atop Nymphs' Hill in Thissio, Athens
Organization	Public institution
Code	066
Location	Thissio, Athens, Greece
Coordinates	37°58′24.2″N 23°43′5.6″E / 37.973389°N 23.718222°E / 37.973389; 23.718222
Established	1842
Website	http://www.noa.gr
Telescopes
Kryoneri Observatory 1.2m Cassegrain Helmos Observatory 2.3m Ritchey–Chrétien
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The National Observatory of Athens (NOA; Greek: Εθνικό Αστεροσκοπείο Αθηνών) is a research institute in Athens, Greece. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest research foundation in Greece, as it was the first scientific research institute built after Greece became independent in 1829, and one of the oldest research institutes in Southern Europe.

Around 1840, the national benefactor, Baron Georgios Sinas, ambassador in Vienna, expressed his intention to make a donation for science development in Greece. He took advice from his friend, the Austrian ambassador in Athens Prokesch-Osten, who knew the Greek-Austrian physicist and astronomer Georg Constantin Bouris. Bouris became the first director of Athens Observatory, and was also involved in the construction of its first building.

The first building, known as Sinas building, was based on a project presented by Eduard Schaubert and designed by the Danish architect Theophil Hansen, it was the first building of the later famous Hansen. The cross-like neoclassic building has its sides oriented toward the four directions of the horizon. There is a small dome for a telescope in the center of the construction. The building was completed in 1846.

Using the donation Bouris ordered and installed the following instruments in the new building:

The Observatory of Athens foundation ceremony in June 26, 1842, the day of a Solar Eclipse, is a magnificent official event. Present were the King of Greece Otto, members of the Government and of the Greek Church. A large crowd of people fills up the vicinity of the place selected for the Observatory, a location on the hill of Nymphs at Thiseio, facing the Acropolis. Following the panegyric speech by professor Bouris, the foundation stone is set under music sounds and cannonade by a Danish frigate anchored at the port of Piraeus.