The National Observatory of Athens (NOA) was established in 1842 by the Vienna-based national benefactor George Sinas.
It carries out state-of-the-art basic and applied research in collaboration with other world-leading research centers. The activities of NOA are organized in 3 institutes staffed with high quality scientific, research and technical personnel: the Institute of Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing, the Institute of Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, and the Geodynamics Institute.
NOA’s research activities are focused on the terrestrial interior, the atmospheric environment and Space, from the interplanetary medium to the astronomical Universe. Basic and applied research is conducted by using observational data from hundreds of ground based stations and several modern space probes. The Centre, with its rich scientific outcomes and activities, is linked to entrepreneurship, culture, education and the popularization of science. NOA offers critical social services, such as a daily monitoring of seismicity and issuing earthquake alerts to the Greek State Authorities on a 24/7 basis, weather forecasting, forest fires monitoring, ionospheric activity recording, continuation of a 150 years long climatic dataset and operation of one of the largest European telescopes. It also provides the national gate to the European Space Agency. The research centre has also an important contribution to public outreach via its popular visitors centers at Penteli, Thission and the Geoastrophysics Museum.