Astronomical Observatory of Turin

(OATo)

Long.: Oh31m05s E Lat.: 45°02'16" N 622 m. a.s.l.

Roberto Bartali

Abstract

This project is about the history of the

Astronomical Observatory of Turin,
“OATo”, in the northern Italy.
To see the first structured
research and observational work in
Turin we have to go back to 1759
when Gianbattista Beccaria measured
an arc of meridian. He begins his
activities with one telescope placed on
the roof of a building in the center of
the city.
During the next 250 years, it
became an important research center Fig. 1: OATo REOSC DOME [1]
in which it works more than 70
people.
technology instrumentation
From almost pure theoretical
for their own use and for
research and Positional Astronomy
other observatories.
observations, the activities were
From the decade of
diversified and now the fields of study
1980 they are working in
are: Extragalactic and Stellar
development and data
Astrophysics, Astometry, Planetology,
reduction of many scientific
Active Galactic Nuclei, Solar Physics.
space missions strictly
Inside the optics, electronics
collaborating, with NASA
and mechanics laboratories, they
and ESA.
design, test and build new high

1
1759…

Gianbattista Beccaria received

from the King Carlo Emanuele III
the order to measure an arc of
meridian in Piedmont (Italy), for
this purpose he obtained a
telescope which was installed on
the roof of a building in the center
of Turin… Fig. 2: Gianbattista Brccaria [2]

…he started to observe and study

astronomical, meteorological and
physical phenomena related to the
electricity…
…in 1774 he published the
“Gradus Taurinensis”, the most
important astronomical work for
that time…
Fig. 3: Gradus Taurinensis [2]

…1790…
…first dome erected on the
building of the Academy of
Science in the center of
Turin…
…Valperga di Caluso
worked on Celestrial
Mechanics and Positional
Astronomy…
Fig. 4: Academy of science building [3]

2
...1822…
…Giovanni Plana transferred
the observatory on the
building called “Palazzo
Madama” in the center of
Turin…
Fig. 5: Domes on Palazzo Madama [2]
…instrumentation inventory
better, but not sufficient…
…the Theory of the
Movement of the Moon is
published in 1832…

Fig. 6: 30 cm Merz Refractor [1]

…1912…

…the observatory was

transferred to the hill of
Pino Torinese at 622 m.
a.s.l. not far from Turin,
but with much better
climate conditions…
…domes, offices,
laboratories and residences
Fig. 7: Panoramic view of the OATo [3]
for astronomers were
erected…
…new instruments were
acquired…
…main office of the Int.
Bureau of Latitudes…
Fig. 8: 20 cm Zeiss refractor [1]

3
…1966…
…new facilities inaugurated and
many new instruments seen their
“first light”…
Fig. 9: 38 and 43 cm Morais Refractor [1]
…more than 30 astronomers doing
research and 40 technical,
administrative and support people…
…technology developments in the
field of visual and IR…
…theoretical Astrophysics…
…scientific space mission
development and data reduction…
Fig. 10: 1.05 m Astrographic Reflector [1]

Fig. 11:
OATo
Photopolarimeter
[1]

Fig. 12: Hipparcos Satellite [2]

Conclusions

The life of the OATo was, for its first 2/3 parts, tied to the Director
in charge, for both: science and administration; notwithstanding
the science was of first level. After the World War II it grows about
10 times. Research, observations and technology developments done
at the OATo are very important, even when they do not have giant
telescopes or multimillionaire budgets, in all of the five main
research areas they are working into.

References
[1] Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino – Attivitá Scientifica dal 1988 al 1998, 1999
[2] Ferrari A., Storia della Scienza e della Tecnica a Torino – Astronomia, 2002
[3] Schiavone L., Storia dell´Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino attraverso le fonti bibliografiche ed
archivistiche, 1991