Astronomical Observatory
The Palermo Astronomical Observatory, housed inside the Palazzo dei Normanni, is one of the research facilities of the National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF). In the Observatory various research projects are carried out in the field of astronomy and astrophysics, including the study of the solar and stellar corona, the birth and stellar evolution and the study of supernova remnants. An integral part of the Observatory's structures is a laboratory for the development and testing of scientific instrumentation for telescopes in the X-ray band (X-ray Astronomy Calibration and Testing Facility, XACT) located in a branch, a high-rise computing center. services for the implementation of numerical models of astrophysical interest (Computing System for Numerical Astrophysics, SCAN) and the Museo della Specola, which contains a vast collection of astronomical instruments belonging to the Observatory.
The observatory was founded in 1790 by the will of Ferdinand I of Bourbon (Source: wikipedia)
The Observatory is home to the "museum of the Specola", which is located at the top of the Pisan tower of the Norman palace, and is mainly composed of the instruments of XVIII and early nineteenth century, among which we find achromatic telescopes, a sextant, some barometers and thermometers, in addition to the two main devices already mentioned: the Ramsden circle and the Troughton equatorial. There are other contemporary tools and a series of oil paintings that portray personalities from the scientific world.
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero Web,
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