The observatory was built in 1958 on the Koufos hill at an altitude of 500 m above sea level. It is an observation station belonging to the National Observatory in Athens. It is housed in a marble building with a dome measuring 14 meters in diameter. There are shows and performances for different age groups, including a program adapted for the youngest children.
The observatory houses the historic, but still used, Newall refractor, built by Thomas Cooke in 1869. From its construction until 1873, it was the largest refractive telescope in the world. It remained the largest telescope in Greece until 1975. Its lens measures 62.5 cm, and the entire device weighs a total of 16 tons. It was named after the British engineer and amateur astronomer Robert Stirling Newall. In the years 1890-1957 the telescope was located at the University of Cambridge. It was then donated to the National Observatory in Athens and placed at Penteli Station.
Attractions inside
