Astronomy, one of the oldest sciences, was originally developed for the understanding and study of the motions of celestial bodies — a meaning already reflected in its Greek name, astronomía, the “law of the stars”. The connection between astronomy and Greek culture is particularly strong, as many fundamental astronomical concepts have their roots in ancient Greece.

Greek philosophers and astronomers carried out the first calculations of the size of the Earth, as well as the distances between the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. They explained the phenomenon of eclipses, understood the motions of the planets, and proposed that our Galaxy consists of a multitude of stars similar to the Sun, appearing faint simply because they are located at great distances — an idea put forward nearly 2,400 years ago by Democritus.

This long-standing tradition of astronomy in Greece continues to the present day. These web pages provide information about the Hellenic Astronomical Society (Hel.A.S.), the official scientific body representing Greek professional astronomers and astrophysicists engaged in research and higher education.

Founded in 1993, the Society follows the structure of modern scientific organizations and currently consists of nearly 300 members, most of whom work at Universities and Research Institutes in Greece and abroad.

The Hellenic Astronomical Society is an affiliate member of the European Astronomical Society.