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Giovanni Schiaparelli, Italian astronomer
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Giovanni Schiaparelli, Italian astronomer
Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli (1835-1910), Italian astronomer. Schiaparelli was, from 1862, the Director of the Milan Observatory for forty years. In 1866 he showed that meteors follow cometary orbits. In 1877 Mars made one of its closest approaches to Earth enabling Schiaparelli to discover its southern polar ice cap. He also saw many dark lines criss-crossing the planet and called them canali (channels), which was mistranslated as canals. As a result the American astronomer Lowell suggested that they were irrigation features constructed by a Martian civilisation when all along Schiaparelli believed them to be natural features
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Areology Astronomer Canals Channels Dead Director Discoverer Italian Mars Martian Meteor Meteors Planetary Science Portraits Scientist Schiaparelli
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This print showcases the esteemed Giovanni Schiaparelli, an Italian astronomer whose contributions to the field of astronomy are nothing short of remarkable. Serving as the Director of the Milan Observatory for a remarkable four decades, from 1862 until his passing in 1910, Schiaparelli left an indelible mark on our understanding of celestial bodies. In 1866, he astounded the scientific community by demonstrating that meteors follow cometary orbits. However, it was during Mars' close approach to Earth in 1877 that Schiaparelli made one of his most groundbreaking discoveries – he observed and documented a southern polar ice cap on Mars. Additionally, he noticed intricate dark lines crisscrossing the planet's surface and referred to them as "canali" which were mistakenly translated as canals instead of channels. Regrettably, this mistranslation led American astronomer Lowell to propose that these features were evidence of irrigation systems constructed by a Martian civilization. In reality, Schiaparelli believed they were natural formations all along. Through this mesmerizing illustration capturing his essence and intellect, we pay homage to Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli - a visionary scientist who forever altered our perception of Mars and its enigmatic features. His legacy continues to inspire generations of astronomers worldwide in their pursuit to unravel the mysteries beyond our own planet's atmosphere.
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