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Italian Astronomers in the IAU: the contribution and role of Italian astronomers from the foundation to the Second World War

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2019

V. Zanini ,
M. Gargano  and
A. Gasperini
V. Zanini
Affiliation:
INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Padova Vicolo dell’Osservatorio, 5–35122 Padova, Italy email: valeria.zanini@inaf.it
M. Gargano
Affiliation:
INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte Salita Moiariello, 16–80131 Napoli, Italy email: mauro.gargano@inaf.it
A. Gasperini
Affiliation:
INAF - Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri Largo Enrico Fermi, 5–50125 Firenze, Italy email: antonella.gasperini@inaf.it
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Abstract

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Even though Italy officially joined the IAU in 1921, Italian astronomers were involved in its birth as early as 1919, when Annibale Riccò, Director of the Astrophysical Observatory of Catania, proposed to the IAU Committee to hold its first General Assembly in Rome. This contribution will analyze the role played by Italian astronomers in the development of the IAU from its foundation to the Second World War. The recent project of reordering of the astronomical historical archives in Italy permits for the first time a more in-depth study of the relations between Italian astronomers and the international scientific community.

Keywords

History of IAUfirst General AssemblyItalian astronomers
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 13 , Symposium S349: Under One Sky: The IAU Centenary Symposium , December 2018 , pp. 248 - 255
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2019 

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