Cyprus celebrated on Wednesday for the first time the International Astronomy Day during an event organized in the gardens of the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, in the presence of President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, Ministers, Ambassadors and Greek Nuclear Physicist at the Chicago University in the US, Thanasis Economou, who, since the mid 1960`s has been building for NASA, ESA etc instruments for interplanetary spacecraft.
Telescopes were brought to the gardens of the Presidential Palace and every one who participated enjoyed the beauty and mysteries of the planets of our solar system.
Addressing the event, the President said that astronomy opens up new horizons and dimensions and noted that Cyprus, despite being a small country, must take up the challenge of this science.
Noting that the idea to officially celebrate the Astronomy Day came as a suggestion from 17 year old student, Stephany Diakou Petropoulou, he said that the event is devoted to her and to all children who believe in their dreams.
He also welcomed to Nicosia Greek Nuclear Physicist at the Chicago University, Thanasis Economou, who is currently visiting Cyprus at the invitation of the Troodos Development Company and the community of Agridia in the Limassol District of Cyprus to give them guidelines regarding their plans to construct a sky observatory in the Troodos mountains area.
President Anastasiades expressed his support towards the idea of a sky observatory and referred to the numerous benefits that this could bring along.
In his address, Economou said that he was pleased by the great interest shown in Cyprus in the science of astronomy and referred to its importance in education and the development of the country.
He also spoke about the idea for a sky observatory at the Troodos mountains, saying that his aim is to help construct it since it could not only contribute to the education especially of the young people, but it could also be important for tourism as well.
Economou expressed the view that a sky observatory would be one of the most important investments ever made by the state.
It is noted that almost all space missions carry an instrument he developed to help analyze the composition of our neighboring planets. Currently he is associated with three robotic interplanetary missions: the Mars Exploration Rovers, the Cassini mission to Saturn, and the Rosetta mission to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
In her address, Environment Commissioner Ioanna Panayiotou said that astronomy`s contribution has been huge, especially in science, research and innovation.
Acknowledging this fact, she added, the state has decided to celebrate the Astronomy Day every year.
The event was organized by the Office of the Environment Commissioner, the Amateur Astronomy Society of Cyprus and the Science & Space Cafe.
Cyprus embarked on a voyage to the planets for Astronomy Day
