Annibale Ricco
Encyclopedia
Annibale Riccò was an Italian
astronomer
.
He was born in Milan
, Italy
. In 1868 he was awarded a bachelors degree from the Università di Modena, then an engineering degree from the Politecnico di Milano. Between 1868 and 1877 he worked as an assistant at the Modena
Observatory, teaching mathematics and physics at the Università di Modena. He taught at Naples
and then Palermo
, where he also worked at the observatory.
In 1890 he was named to the chair of astrophysics at the Università di Catania
, and became director of the observatory on Mount Etna
as well as the first director of the Catania Observatory. Between 1898 and 1900 he was named chancellor of the University.
During his career he performed research into sunspots, and he participated in four solar eclipse
expeditions, leading the expeditions in 1905 and 1914. He was president of the Società degli Spettroscopisti Italiani and the Gioenia di Scienze Naturali di Catania. He also served as vice president of the International Astronomical Union
. He was elected President of the volcanology section of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
(IUGG) for the period 1919-1922.
The crater Ricco
on the Moon
is named after him.
He died in Rome
, Italy
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
.
He was born in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In 1868 he was awarded a bachelors degree from the Università di Modena, then an engineering degree from the Politecnico di Milano. Between 1868 and 1877 he worked as an assistant at the Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
Observatory, teaching mathematics and physics at the Università di Modena. He taught at Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and then Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, where he also worked at the observatory.
In 1890 he was named to the chair of astrophysics at the Università di Catania
University of Catania
The University of Catania is a university located in Catania, Italy, and founded in 1434. It is the oldest university in Sicily, the 13th oldest in Italy and the 29th oldest university in the world...
, and became director of the observatory on Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently standing high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m higher than it was in 1981.. It is the highest mountain in...
as well as the first director of the Catania Observatory. Between 1898 and 1900 he was named chancellor of the University.
During his career he performed research into sunspots, and he participated in four solar eclipse
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
expeditions, leading the expeditions in 1905 and 1914. He was president of the Società degli Spettroscopisti Italiani and the Gioenia di Scienze Naturali di Catania. He also served as vice president of the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
. He was elected President of the volcanology section of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the scientific study of the Earth using geophysical and geodesic techniques. The IUGG was established in 1919. Some areas within its scope are environmental preservation, reduction of the effects of...
(IUGG) for the period 1919-1922.
The crater Ricco
Ricco (crater)
Ricco is a lunar impact crater. It is located in the northern part of the Moon's far side. This crater overlies the southeastern rim of the larger crater Milankovic. Less than one crater diameter to the southwest is Karpinskiy, while to the southeast is Roberts.This is a relatively fresh crater...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named after him.
He died in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.