Introduction
The National Observatory of Athens is a research centre operating in accordance with the rules and procedures of public law, under the supervision of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Ministry of Development and Investment. The Centre was founded in 1842 and has since provided services for research, science and society. With its highly skilled human resources and important infrastructure, the National Observatory of Athens today plays an important role in research in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, space applications, environment, energy and meteorology, seismology and geodynamics at European and international level.