Dimitrios Aeginitis

In memoriam

'ΘΡΗΣΚΕΙΑ, ΑΣΤΡΟΝΟΜΙΑ, ΠΑΙΔΕΙΑ' ('Religion, Astronomy, Education'), 'ΣΚΕΠΤΟΜΑΙ ΑΡΑ ΥΠΑΡΧΕΙ ΘΕΟΣ' ('I think. Therefore, there is a God!')

Dimitrios Aeginitis (Δημήτριος Αιγινήτης) was a Distinguished astronomer. Director of the Athens National Observatory (1890-1934), where he founded a department of geodynamics for the study of earthquakes; Professor of Astronomy and Meteorology at the University of Athens (1896-1934); Academic (1926-1934). In 1926, as Minister of Education for the government of Theodoros Panghalos, he contributed to the founding of the Academy of Athens and to the organization of the Aristoteleio University of Thessaloniki. Most noteworthy works: General Astronomy, The Climate of Greece. He was born in Athens in 1862. He graduated from the Varvakeio School in 1879 and after his university studies was sent with state's scholarship to Paris for specialization in Astronomy. In 1923 he became the key factor for the official adoption by the Greek State of the Gregorian ("New") Calendar instead of the Julian ("Old") Calendar, as well as for the adoption of the universal/global time reference system or astronomical time. He was the recipient of many medals and honours by Kings and Presidents of the Republic as well as of the title of Knight of the Legion of Honour of France. He contributed also for the establishment of the Hospital of Red Cross in Athens.

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