Annibale de Gasparis | |
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 Annibale de Gasparis | |
| Born | (1819-11-09)9 November 1819 |
| Died | 21 March 1892(1892-03-21) (aged 72) |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Alma mater | University of Naples |
| Known for | Discovery of asteroids |
| Awards | Lalande Prize(1849–53) Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society(1851) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics,astronomy,celestial mechanics |
| Institutions | Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte,University of Naples Federico II |
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Annibale de Gasparis (Italian pronunciation:[anˈniːbaledeˈɡasparis]; 9 November 1819 – 21 March 1892) was an Italianastronomer, known for discovering asteroids and his contributions totheoretical astronomy.
De Gasparis was born in 1819 inBugnara to Angelo de Gasparis and Eleonora Angelantoni[1] originally fromTocco da Casauria. Son of a doctor, he studied in the seminars ofSulmona andChieti, becoming passionate of classic novels and learning mathematics as a self-taught person. In 1838 he arrived inNaples to study engineering at the School of Bridges and Roads, today's Engineering faculty ofNaples University, and the following year he was accepted as a student at theAstronomical Observatory of Capodimonte by the directorErnesto Capocci. He studiedmathematics andcelestial mechanics and in 1845 he published his first scientific paper on the orbit of theminor planetVesta.[2] For this studies he earned, as early as 1846, the honorary degree in mathematics by the University of Naples.[3]
In 1848 he participated in theliberal movements, he avoided the Bourbon repression dedicating to the KingFerdinand II his first discovery: the asteroidHygiea, made on 12 April 1849 with the equatorial telescope of Reichenbach & Utzschneider, giving it the name ofIgea Borbonica. In 1850, Capocci was dismissed as director of the observatory due to his participation in the liberal revolts. De Gasparis refused to assume the position of observatory director in deference to his mentor and friend Capocci.[4]
In 1858 he was appointed professor of astronomy in Naples University.[3]
After the death of Capocci, 6 January 1864, he was appointed as director of theAstronomical Observatory of Capodimonte inNaples.[5] Due to his illness he left the observatory in 1889 going to live in a country house not far from the Observatory.
De Gasparis married Giuseppina Russo in 1848, and they had 9 children together, 3 of which died in infancy.[3]
De Gasparis published more than 200 scientific papers on mathematics, celestial mechanics, astronomy and meteorology.[3]
He and others occasionally wrote his name asAnnibal de Gasparis.[6]
Annibale de Gasparis discovered visually the following nineasteroids. In addition, he also independently discovered14 Irene, whose discovery was, however, credited to the English astronomerJohn Russell Hind.[5][7]
| 10 Hygiea | 12 April 1849 |
| 11 Parthenope | 11 May 1850 |
| 13 Egeria | 2 November 1850 |
| 15 Eunomia | 29 July 1851 |
| 16 Psyche | 17 March 1852 |
| 20 Massalia | 19 September 1852 |
| 24 Themis | 5 April 1853 |
| 63 Ausonia | 10 February 1861 |
| 83 Beatrix | 26 April 1865 |
He won theGold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1851.[9] He was also awarded theLalande Prize from 1849 to 1853.[10]
On 20 January 1861 he was appointed Senator of theKingdom of Italy for his high scientific merits.[11]
Recipient of theOrder of the Red Eagle, and of theOrder of the Rose.[12]
The main-belt asteroid4279 De Gasparis as well as the 30-kilometer lunar craterde Gasparis and the nearby 93-kilometer long fractureRimae de Gasparis, are named in his honour.[5]
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