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Giacomo Filippo Maraldi (21 August 1665 – 1 December 1729) was aFrench-Italianastronomer andmathematician. His name is also given asJacques Philippe Maraldi.Born inPerinaldo (modernLiguria) he was the nephew ofGiovanni Cassini, and worked most of his life at theParis Observatory (1687 – 1718). He also is the uncle ofJean-Dominique Maraldi.
From 1700 until 1718 he worked on a catalog offixed stars, and from 1672 until 1719 he studiedMars extensively.[better source needed]His most famous astronomical discovery was that the ice caps on Mars are not exactly on the rotational poles of that body. He also recognized (in May 1724) that thecorona visible during asolar eclipse belongs to theSun not to theMoon,[1] and he discoveredR Hydrae as avariable star. He also helped with the survey based on theParis Meridian.
In 1723[2] he also confirmed earlier (1715) discovery of his pupilJoseph-Nicolas Delisle of what is usually referred to asPoisson's spot, an observation that was unrecognized until its rediscovery in the early 19th century byDominique Arago. At the time of Arago's discovery, Poisson's spot gave convincing evidence for the contested wave nature of light.[3]
Inmathematics he is most known for obtaining theangle in therhombic dodecahedron shape in 1712, which is still called the Maraldi angle.[citation needed]
Craters on the Moon and Mars were named in his and his nephew's honor.[citation needed]
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