Penteli Observatory

On Penteli Mountain northeast of Athens, Greece, Penteli Observatory has moved from cutting-edge research site to public astronomy destination over more than six decades, all while keeping one of the world's most historic telescopes on display.

About Penteli Observatory

Operated by the National Observatory of Athens, construction on the site began in 1957 and the observatory was founded in 1958. It is best known for housing the Newall Refractor, built in 1869 with a 62.5 cm aperture and 9-metre tube, the largest refracting telescope in the world at the time of its construction.

History

Penteli Observatory was a major centre of scientific research from 1959 to 1980. As light pollution from the growing city of Athens increasingly interfered with observing, the site gradually shifted toward public outreach, a transition marked by the opening of its Visitor Center in 1995.

Telescopes & research

The historic Newall Refractor remains the observatory's centrepiece, though today's most notable scientific work comes from the Athens Digisonde, an ionosonde used for ionospheric sounding rather than optical observation.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits on Penteli Mountain northeast of Athens, a location chosen for its elevation above the city, though it now contends with the light pollution that has spread outward from the Greek capital over the decades.

Visiting Penteli Observatory

Penteli Observatory's Visitor Center is open to the public, offering the chance to see the historic Newall Refractor in person. Check the National Observatory of Athens website for current opening times and any booking requirements.

See your named star from here

Just as the Newall Refractor was once trained on distant objects using precise coordinates, your named star from Star Register comes with its own RA and Dec for any telescope to find. See more named stars in our catalogue.