The General Accounting Office of Cyprus has launched a tender to find a company to manage and promote the new observatory in Troodos as an important landmark in the mountainous region.
The authority plans to select a suitable candidate by the end of August so that it can start work as early as September 2024.
According to the tender documents, the contract with the winning company will be for 10 years, with an option to extend for a further 5 years. Under the terms of the contract, the contractor will be required to make every effort to ensure that the new observatory acts as:
- A tourist attraction;
- A place for stargazing;
- An educational space;
- a place for research and academic activities.
Among the main conditions that the contractor will have to fulfill are also:
- Hours of operation - the Troodos Observatory must be open at least five days a week, including two Saturdays and two Sundays, for a minimum of five hours each day.
- The Contractor is obliged to ensure the smooth operation of the Observatory and its equipment (compliance with safety and warranty regulations, maintenance and any other obligations that may arise during the period of the Concession Contract and after its expiry).
- There is a possibility of opening a canteen on the premises of the Observatory, but its operation will depend on the Contractor.
It is recalled that the construction of the Observatory will be completed in May 2024.
The President of Cyprus, Nicos Christodoulides, was present at the ceremony to mark this important event. From the outside, the building, with its 5.6 metre mirrored dome, looks like a spaceship. Its design was inspired by the iconic Star Wars franchise.
The observatory is located at an altitude of 1.2 thousand metres, near the villages of Agridia and Khandria (near Agros). The site was chosen because of the low level of light pollution that affects stargazing, as well as the low humidity. More than 200 cloudless Cypriot nights a year will allow astronomers to observe the stars without interference. The architectural design of the project was developed by Helena Tsolakis in collaboration with her brother Nicodemus.
Their idea is for the observatory to look like a spaceship that has landed and is ready to take off. It is worth noting that the construction of this unusual object began in April 2021. Two main telescopes will be installed in the building: a 20-inch astronomical telescope and a telescope for observing the sun. The new observatory is expected to attract scientists, researchers and astronomy enthusiasts from all over the world, as well as becoming an attraction for all schools in Cyprus.