MUSEO DELL'OSSERVATORIO ASTRONOMICO DI PADOVA - MUSEO LA SPECOLA

The Astronomical Observatory of Padua is a research center of the National Institute of Astrophysics. Its main activity is scientific research in various fields of astrophysics, including the design and development of technologies for astronomical instrumentation. It also plays an important role in disseminating scientific culture through various extension projects. It all starts on May 21, 1761 when the Senate of the Republic of Venice promulgates a decree for the creation of an astronomical observatory at the University of Padua… This decree is needed in a broader context of university reform with a view to the renewal of many teachers' posts and the creation of new scientific institutions. In September 1765, Abbot Giuseppe Toaldo, professor of astronomy, geography and meteorite, was given responsibility to visit the main Italian observatories in order to obtain all the information necessary to design a building adapted to astronomy. After research, Toaldo suggests choosing the upper tower of the Castel Vecchio - medieval castle dating from the xiiith century near the city center - as the main building of the future observatory. This tower has the best elements to be transformed into "specola" (observatory): In addition to limiting spending, it is located in the southern suburbs of the city and thus offers a well-established south horizon, celestial area where objects are the highest in the sky. Its construction starts in 1767 and ends ten years later. Two observatories are actually constructed, a first inferior to 16 m from the ground (called later "the meridian room"), and a superior placed 35 m above the ground (called later the "hall of figures" due to the frescoes that adorn it). Above that, two small domes are built to place other instruments as well as a turret for stairs on the floors. The terrace above the Meridian room is intended for weather observations (until the beginning of the twentieth century). The fall of the Republic of Venice in May 1797 marks the beginning of a difficult period for the Center of Padua because of the various political and military situations that follow. At the beginning of the nineteenth and even more so around 1850, however, a new development allowed the observatory to develop, with the installation of new instruments of observation and measures. In 1882, the prestigious astronomical telescope of 19 cm in diameter was installed. In 1913, new efforts were made to improve the observatory, but the First World War broke out and the tower of the observatory was logically commandeered by the army for the detection of enemy aircraft! Secondly, as with many other European observatories in the city, there is the question of whether or not to make such a building last in a place where it is no longer possible to make quality observations… Thus many of the instruments of Padua are disseminated to other Italian observatories over time and needs.