335
Buonanno had joined the observatory as an astronomer in 1974, working on stellar evolution and spending a period of time at ESO. He contributed to develop new
computing techniques for data analysis of both astronomical plates and then
CCD. He had continued his career at OAR until 1991, when he became full professor at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata.” During his directorship the observatory
underwent significant development, opening many new lines of research and transforming the observatory into a modern institute at an international level. During this
period, the scientific personnel of the observatory more than doubled, and many
scientific activities were moved to Monte Porzio.
Buonanno also completed the arrangement of the infrastructure at Monte Porzio.
This included a guest house to host visiting scientists and students and a monumental staircase to access the main building. In the big dome (left empty after the war),
he placed the library of the Observatory. He set up an infrastructure dedicated
entirely to public outreach activities and supported the archaeological park
(Fig. 20.4). He made a scientific agreement with Pulkovo Observatory (S. Petersburg),
where “Mussolini’s telescope” had been located after World War II, and in this context the Russian institute provided a new 1.1 m telescope (AZT-24) dedicated to
near-infrared observations, to be installed at Campo Imperatore (Buonanno
2008, 2018).
By 1999 the Astronomical Observatory of Rome was employing 37 researchers
covering almost all the fields of modern astrophysical research, from solar observations (following the long tradition since Secchi and Respighi), observation and
physical characterization of minor bodies of solar system, star formation, stellar
evolution (always a part of the observatory’s scientific heritage), high-energy astrophysics, relativistic astrophysics, observational cosmology, and theoretical cosmology. OAR scientists had been also coordinating or participating to the realization of
many instruments for both space- and ground-based observatories (Amendola et al.
1999). About one century after Secchi and Respighi, OAR researchers finally
entered in the footprint of these great scientists and started to contribute at high level
to worldwide astrophysical researches. We can find in Rome a new generation of
astrophysicists distinguished in the field of spectroscopy, in the development of
theoretical models, in the development of advanced astronomical instrumentation,
and in managing and handling of astronomical images and catalogs.
19.6 INAF and the Astronomy in Rome
in the New Millennium
In 1999 a new law again reformed Italian astronomical observatories, merging them
into a national institution (National Institute for Astrophysics – INAF) whose headquarters was established at Montemario, sharing the site with OAR. The main site
of OAR was moved to Monte Porzio Catone (Fig. 19.4) at that time, but the Museo
Astronomico-Copernicano, containing all the history and tradition of OAR,
19 Astronomy in Rome After Secchi and His Legacy at the Astronomical Observatory…
Buonanno had joined the observatory as an astronomer in 1974, working on stellar evolution and spending a period of time at ESO. He contributed to develop new
computing techniques for data analysis of both astronomical plates and then
CCD. He had continued his career at OAR until 1991, when he became full professor at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata.” During his directorship the observatory
underwent significant development, opening many new lines of research and transforming the observatory into a modern institute at an international level. During this
period, the scientific personnel of the observatory more than doubled, and many
scientific activities were moved to Monte Porzio.
Buonanno also completed the arrangement of the infrastructure at Monte Porzio.
This included a guest house to host visiting scientists and students and a monumental staircase to access the main building. In the big dome (left empty after the war),
he placed the library of the Observatory. He set up an infrastructure dedicated
entirely to public outreach activities and supported the archaeological park
(Fig. 20.4). He made a scientific agreement with Pulkovo Observatory (S. Petersburg),
where “Mussolini’s telescope” had been located after World War II, and in this context the Russian institute provided a new 1.1 m telescope (AZT-24) dedicated to
near-infrared observations, to be installed at Campo Imperatore (Buonanno
2008, 2018).
By 1999 the Astronomical Observatory of Rome was employing 37 researchers
covering almost all the fields of modern astrophysical research, from solar observations (following the long tradition since Secchi and Respighi), observation and
physical characterization of minor bodies of solar system, star formation, stellar
evolution (always a part of the observatory’s scientific heritage), high-energy astrophysics, relativistic astrophysics, observational cosmology, and theoretical cosmology. OAR scientists had been also coordinating or participating to the realization of
many instruments for both space- and ground-based observatories (Amendola et al.
1999). About one century after Secchi and Respighi, OAR researchers finally
entered in the footprint of these great scientists and started to contribute at high level
to worldwide astrophysical researches. We can find in Rome a new generation of
astrophysicists distinguished in the field of spectroscopy, in the development of
theoretical models, in the development of advanced astronomical instrumentation,
and in managing and handling of astronomical images and catalogs.
19.6 INAF and the Astronomy in Rome
in the New Millennium
In 1999 a new law again reformed Italian astronomical observatories, merging them
into a national institution (National Institute for Astrophysics – INAF) whose headquarters was established at Montemario, sharing the site with OAR. The main site
of OAR was moved to Monte Porzio Catone (Fig. 19.4) at that time, but the Museo
Astronomico-Copernicano, containing all the history and tradition of OAR,
19 Astronomy in Rome After Secchi and His Legacy at the Astronomical Observatory…