New telescope at Skinakas Observatory

A new, state-of-the-art optical telescope has been operating since 20 November at Skinakas Observatory, the common research infrastructure of the University of Crete and the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), created thanks to the donation of 15,000 sqm of land on the homonymous peak of Psiloritis by the historic Municipality of Anogia.

Purchasing the 1.0m diameter telescope, which was built by ASA Astrosysteme GbmH in Austria, was possible thanks to a donation of 500,000 Euros by the Committee «Greece 2021», on the occasion of 200 years from the Greek revolution and the foundation of the modern Greek state. The new telescope, which was named "200+", by  Ms. Gianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki, the President of the Committee, during the ceremony of announcement of the donation on June 9, 2022, will not be used only for astronomy research and education of students. It will become a national reference point for the development of innovative technologies and services related to new generation telecommunications with satellites using near-infrared lasers, as well as a centre for monitoring the position of these satellites. This is an emerging market since those satellites number in thousands and rotate a few hundred kilometres above the Earth's surface, and the associated activities  will lead to building  know-how in cutting-edge sectors as well as creating new jobs and economic growth in Crete.

Vassilis Charmandaris, Professor at the University of Crete as well as Director of Skinakas Observatory and the Institute of Astrophysics of FORTH, says:  "It is difficult to express the enthusiasm of all the astronomers in our academic ecosystem here at Heraklion. After almost 30 years a new telescope has begun collecting starlight on Skinakas! The investment is extremely important and would not have been possible without the contribution of the Committee "Greece 2021" which I would like to thank again personally. Thanks to the new telescope, we can capitalize in the best possible way on the impressive potential of the newly established Institute of Astrophysics and continue to attract the best researchers and students from Greece and abroad. Young people with good ideas and hard work, relying on our infrastructure and the high-quality academic environment of our hospitable island, will make their dreams come true and Crete famous and prosperous".

In addition, in 2025, the so-called «School of the Stars», a new 360sqm building, which contain a lecture hall of 85 seats is expected to be completed. The building was a project of the Municipality of Anogeia for over 15 years and it was also funded by the Committee «Greece 2021» with 1 million Euro donation.

Socratis Kefalogiannis, Mayor of the Municipality of Anogia explains: "Since the establishment of the Observatory almost 40 years ago until today, the Municipality of Anogeia supports it, because we are fully aware of the importance of this infrastructure not only for our region and the island of Crete but also for our country. The new building, the "School of the stars", is part of the strategic planning of the Municipality for the development of the mountainous area. It is expected to be completed in 2025 and together with the telescopes of Skinakas Observatory, it will become a pole of attraction and a link between the Municipality of Anogeia, the University of Crete and FORTH. The three institutions together will organize cultural and educational activities, as well as activities in the up-and-coming theme of astrotourism. The new building will help us to take initiatives together that will make a tangible contribution to a gently and high-quality development of mountainous Crete by highlighting, always with respect to our tradition, the history, the culture and the bright future of our land".

"These investments are extremely important, and would not have taken place without the contribution of the Committee "Greece 2021", which I would like to thank again personally", reiterated Prof. Charmandaris.

"The sky is not our limit" is the motto of the Institute of Astrophysics and the Skinakas Observatory.  The new 1.0m telescope will help the astronomers at Skinakas push this limit even further.

More photographs of the new telescope and its dome are available in the gallery of the institute.