Panzano Observatory

Panzano Observatory was a 17th-century astronomical observatory near Bologna, Italy, where one of history's great astronomers took his first steps in the field.

About Panzano Observatory

The observatory stood in the village of Panzano, about 3 kilometres north-northwest of the centre of Castelfranco Emilia, near Bologna. It was built in the early 1640s by Cornelio Malvasia, an Italian nobleman and astronomer.

History

Giovanni Cassini worked at Panzano from 1648 to 1669, learning from Jesuit scientists including Giovanni Battista Riccioli and Francesco Maria Grimaldi. It was here that Cassini began the observations that would later lead him to discover four of Saturn's moons and identify the gap in Saturn's rings now known as the Cassini Division. In 1671 he left to become director of the newly founded Paris Observatory.

Location & getting there

The historic site lies in the countryside near Castelfranco Emilia, a short distance from Bologna in northern Italy.

Visiting Panzano Observatory

Panzano Observatory is a historical site rather than an operating modern facility; check local Bologna-area tourism resources for the latest information before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

Cassini's discoveries at Panzano began with careful, patient observation of the same sky you can see today. Name a star in tribute to that spirit of discovery, and find its coordinates in our star catalogue, or browse other historic sites on our observatories page.