ARISTARCHOS Telescope
A 2.3 m telescope in the Peloponnese, Greece
A Unique Infrastructure
Helmos Observatory is located on mount Helmos (Aroania) in the Northern Peloponnese at an altitude of 2340 m (22˚ 11′ 46″ East, 37˚ 59′ 04″ North), 130 km west of Athens and about 15 km from the city of Kalavryta. The site is one of the darkest areas in Greece and Europe.
ARISTARCHOS – A 2.3m instrument in the Peloponnese operated by IAASARS
Quality – Excellent quality of optics
International Collaborations – Partner of ESA/ScyLight,OPTICON-RadioNet Pilot
News
Call for proposals – 2023
The next proposal deadline for the observing period July 1-October 31, 2023 is May 5, 2023 (23:59 Local Time).
Laser optical links were made between the Aristarchos telescope and the AlphaSat telecommunication satellite
Between June 26 and July 2, laser optical links were made between the Aristarchos telescope and the AlphaSat telecommunication satellite. The team visiting from ESA worked with the Helmos Observatory team to complete several experiments in which the telescope not only recorded the beam from AlphaSat but also the quality and characteristics of the signal.
Additional equipment and tests in the framework of ScyLight project
After the successful installation of the equipment of the ScyLight program last July, the ESA team visits again the observatory of Helmos where in collaboration with the staff of IAASARS, they continue the tests with the telescope “Aristarchos”.
Latest Publications
The selection of the Helmos Observatory by ESA as the first ground station for “fiber in the sky” is crucial in order for our country to play a central role in the new generation applications for the space sector.
This successful collaboration of the National Observatory of Athens with ESA and the Ministry of Digital Governance opened the possibility for other national infrastructure to be included in the program.”
Our Partners
Meet Our Team
Space Applications and Remote Sensing
