Athens National Observatory

The Athens National Observatory was founded in 1842 and is a scientific research institute. The observatory building was built according to the plans of the Austrian architect Theophil von Hansen. The observatory was funded by the benefactor and diplomat Georg Simon von Sina. The observatory conducts research in the fields of astronomy, seismics, energy and climatology. The observatory includes institutes of astronomy and astrophysics, environmental and sustainable development research, geodynamics, space technology and remote sensing, and astrophysics of elementary particles. The observatory has a UNESCO Chair in Natural Disasters and a National Seismological Network. The observatory is home to the Greek Coordinator of the Global Earth Observation System (GEOSS). The observatory has telescopes such as the Doris telescope, a refractor and a telescope in Crete.