Antonio Abetti
Encyclopedia
Antonio Abetti was an Italian astronomer
.
Born in San Pietro di Gorizia (Šempeter-Vrtojba
), he earned a degree in mathematics
and engineering
at the University of Padua
. Later he became director of the Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri and a professor at the University of Florence
. He died in Arcetri
.
to observe a transit of Venus
with a spectroscope.
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...
.
Born in San Pietro di Gorizia (Šempeter-Vrtojba
Šempeter-Vrtojba
Šempeter-Vrtojba is a municipality in Slovenia. The municipality comprises the town of Šempeter pri Gorici and the adjacent village of Vrtojba....
), he earned a degree in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
at the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
. Later he became director of the Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri and a professor at the University of Florence
University of Florence
The University of Florence is a higher study institute in Florence, central Italy. One of the largest and oldest universities in the country, it consists of 12 faculties...
. He died in Arcetri
Arcetri
Arcetri is a region of Florence, Italy, in the hills to the south of the city centre.-Landmarks:A number of historic buildings are situated there, including the house of the famous scientist Galileo Galilei ,...
.
Work
Abetti mainly worked in positional astronomy and made many observations of minor planets, comets, and star occultations. He refurbished the observatory at Arcetri by installing a new telescope. In 1874 he was part of an expedition led by Pietro TacchiniPietro Tacchini
Pietro Tacchini was an Italian astronomer.He was born and raised in Modena, Italy. He studied engineering at the University of Padova. At the age of 21, he was appointed the director of a small observatory in Modena. By 1863 he became the Primo Astronomo Aggiunto, or director of the observatory,...
to observe a transit of Venus
Transit of Venus
A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun...
with a spectroscope.
Honors
- Member of the Accademia dei LinceiAccademia dei LinceiThe Accademia dei Lincei, , is an Italian science academy, located at the Palazzo Corsini on the Via della Lungara in Rome, Italy....
. - Member of the Royal Astronomical SocietyRoyal Astronomical SocietyThe Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
. - The crater AbettiAbetti (crater)Abetti is a lunar crater that has been completely submerged by mare lavas. It forms a 'ghost crater' in the surface, showing only a curved rise where the rim is located. Abetti is located near the southeast edge of Mare Serenitatis, to the west of the Mons Argaeus. This crater is generally visible...
on the MoonMoonThe 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 both Antonio and his son Giorgio AbettiGiorgio AbettiGiorgio Abetti was an Italian solar astronomer.He was born in Padua, the son of noted astronomer Antonio Abetti. He was educated at the Universities of Padua and of Rome....
. - The minor planet 2646 Abetti2646 Abetti2646 Abetti is a main belt asteroid discovered on March 13, 1977 by Chernykh, N. at Nauchnyj.-References:...
is also named after Antonio and his son.