Tip of the day 8/8/2022 – A visit at Planetarium

• August 8, 2022

Yesterday, Dionysis Simopoulos, the director of the Eugenides Foundation Planetarium, 387, Syggrou Ave. 17564, P. Faliro) passed away at his 79. He played a key role in the promotion of astronomy and science in general in Greece.

He had studied at the University of Louisiana, USA, where he then worked in various positions between 1968 and 1973, including as director of the state’s planetarium. At the invitation of the Eugenides Foundation, he took over the directorship of the Planetarium in Athens (1973-2014) and was subsequently named its honorary director.

He had many national and international honours to his credit, having served, among others, as President of the European Association for Astronomical Education (1994-2002), member of the Board of Directors of the International Planetarium Society (1978-2008), Secretary General of the Association of European and Mediterranean Planetariums (1976-2008), Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of England and of the International Planetarium Society. In 1996 he received the highest honorary distinction of the International Planetarium Society for his contribution to international astronomical education, in 2006 he was awarded the “Academic Phoenix” by the French Ministry of Education and in 2015 he was awarded by the Academy of Athens.

So, a visit to the Planetarium during your trip to Athens is a must visit. Unfortunately, it is closed for August but you can check its schedule for September at the webstie above and plan your visit there.