Skinakas: the open nights move to Anogeia

The Skinakas Observatory is moving all of its open nights for 2026 from its facilities on Psiloritis to the venue ‘O Topos tou Voskou’ at Anogeia. According to the announcement by the Institute of Astrophysics of the Foundation for Research and Technology, the change concerns all three events scheduled for the year, that is those of 21 August, 28 August and 24 September 2026, which will take place from 20:00 to 23:00. The reason given is the many parallel works currently under way at the observatory’s facilities: the decision was taken for reasons of safety, both of the staff and of the public, particularly in cases of a large turnout of visitors.

Despite the move, the content of the events remains the same. The stargazing with portable telescopes, which are set up at the reception area, and the astronomy talk that accompanies each evening will both be retained. The Skinakas open nights have for years served as the public’s main point of contact with a research observatory that is normally not open to visitors, and they draw local residents, families and visitors from all over Crete. Moving to a lower altitude simplifies access, as the climb to the summit is made along a mountain road with limited parking space, something that in the past has created congestion on evenings with large attendance.

The Skinakas Observatory stands at an altitude of more than 1,700 metres, on the Psiloritis massif, and operates as a research facility with international collaborations. The altitude, the clear atmosphere and the distance from the light sources of urban centres combine to create observing conditions considered among the best in Greece. For Anogeia and the wider Mylopotamos area, the presence of the observatory is a constant element of identity and one of the few poles of scientific tourism in mountainous Crete, in an area where visitor numbers rest mainly on the livestock-farming tradition, on music and on the nature of Psiloritis.

Hosting the evenings at ‘O Topos tou Voskou’ links the event to a facility that already operates as a visitor reception space at Anogeia, giving the settlement the role that until now belonged to the summit. It has not been announced whether the arrangement will also apply to the 2027 evenings, nor when the works at the observatory’s facilities are expected to be completed. Nor have details been released about the nature of the works being carried out. Those interested are expected to be informed of any changes through the announcements of the Institute of Astrophysics, as the events also depend on the weather conditions, which on the mountain massif change quickly even in the middle of summer.