National Observatory of Athens

The National Observatory of Athens was built in 1842 and designed by Theophil Hansen. Initially funded by Georgios Sinas, the observatory is the oldest research foundation on the Balkan Peninsula. In 1890, the operation and maintenance of the observatory passed from the Sinas family to the Greek state. From 1890, as director, D. Eginitis established a seismology and meteorology network, and organised astronomy, geodynamic and meteorology departments at the observatory. In its more than 180 years of operation, the National Observatory of Athens has never stopped developing and expanding, adding greatly to research, science and education. Today it comprises three institutes and runs astronomical and seismic monitoring stations throughout Greece.