Il Meteorografo Di Padre Angelo Secchi

Abstract

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.

The Great Aurora of 4 February 1872 observed by Angelo Secchi in Rome

“…Observations were made 8 times a day, from 7am to 9pm, including a measurement, requested by US colleagues, at 1:30 pm. For more details on Secchi's Meteorografo read the essay (Brenni, 1993).…”

Red de conocimiento: los jesuitas, las ciencias de observatorio y su evolución en España y ultramar, 1855-1905

“…Su instalación supuso un salto cualitativo, en parte porque registraba muchos elementos meteorológicos de manera continua y automática, y también porque era capaz de visualizar los resultados de manera gráfica. Los registros meteorográficos fueron de tremendo valor para las investigaciones de Faura y Viñes, aunque con el tiempo perdió protagonismo, pues no revelaba la clase y dirección de nubes reinantes en las altas regiones de la atmósfera (Brenni 1993).…”