Speaker
Description
From a young age, GVS’ parents had instilled in him a love for astronomy. He enrolled in the degree program in Hydraulic Engineering and Civil Architecture, in the absence of that one in Mathematics. Giovanni Plana, then director of the Obsevatory of Turin, taught Calculus. However, GVS was unable to establish a productive relationship with him. Thanks to the support of some of his professors, he was able to study for two years in Berlin under Encke’s supervision. He then spent almost another year at Pulkovo under the supervision of Struve father and son. Once he became director, in 1862, he realized that the glorious Observatory of Boscovich and Oriani had many critical issues:
1) The instruments were obsolete.
2) The staff was small, poorly paid, not prepared to the task, and had unfounded career ambitions.
3) The instruments were placed on top of a bell tower.
4) In post-Unification Italy there were eleven astronomical observatories that were undersized both in terms of instrumentation and personnel.
GVS knew that a good observatory should feature at least two types of instruments: one for meridian observations and one for extra-meridian observations.
GVS managed to obtain two telescopes that at the time were considered among the best. But as far as the other three points were concerned, GVS obtained little or nothing.
For this reason, he devoted part of his time to activities that were considered marginal.
In my talk, I will take into consideration the contributions that GVS managed to provide.