Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

IL METEOROGRAFO DI PADRE ANGELO SECCHI

1993; Brill; Volume: 8; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1163/182539183x00082

1825-3911

Paolo Brenni,

Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation

Abstract <title> SUMMARY </title>During the 19th Century the systematic collecting of meteorological data became a general practice. Several scientists and instrument makers invented new meteorological instruments and improved the existing ones. Probably the most impressive and sophisticated recording apparatus was the meteorograph devised between 1855 and 1865 by the Italian astronomer Padre Angelo Secchi (1818-1878). This huge and complicated machine was presented to the 1867 Paris Universal Exhibition where it was considered the technological masterpiece. The instrument worked in Rome for several years and then, partially dismanteled, was finally stored in the Osservatorio Astronomico di Monte Porzio (Rome). Recently carried to Florence, the meteorograph is now beeing restored in the laboratories of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure under the supervision of the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza. My paper will trace the history of this ingeniuos instrument which represented a technological achievement but an economic failure.