Indeed Crete Has Its Own Observatory

Maybe you didn't know this yet, but Crete has its own Observatory, a great one.

Almost, at  the top of historic mountain of Idi - Psiloritis mountain at an altitude of 1,750 meters is located the Observatory of Skinakas.

At the peak of plateau, and at the area which is giving from the Municipality of Anogion, two telescopes are operating in separate buildings.

The first telescope came into operation in 1986. The second one, with a mirror diameter of 1,3 m., is the largest observatory in Greece and it is inaugurated in 1995.

The Skinakas Observatory is a joined research facility of the University of Crete and the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH).

Its prime objective is to conduct fundamental research in Astronomy and to promote Astronomy among students and general public in Greece. It currently houses two fully functional telescopes: a 1.3m modified Ritchey–Chrétien telescope and a 0.3m Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.

Skinakas Observatory is operated by the Astrophysics Group of the University of Crete and FORTH.

Summer Hours: one (1) Sunday of each month. For more information, be informed of the website of the Observatory