The Role of Italian Astronomers in the IAU Foundation Mauro Gargano, Antonella Gasperini and Valeria Zanini INAF - National Institute for Astrophysics

The role of Italian astronomers in the IAU foundation Mauro Gargano, Antonella Gasperini and Valeria Zanini INAF - National Institute for Astrophysics

Astromeeting, Napoli 5 February 2020 •Vereinigte Astronomische Gesellschaft Founded in 1800 in Lilienthal. It organized the “Himmelspolizey” to discover the hypothetical planet theorized by the Tietz and Bode.

•Royal Astronomical Society Established on 10 March 1820 to promote astronomy. •Astronomische Gesellschaft Established on [28] August 1863 at Heidelberg University.

•Società degli Spettroscopisti italiani Established on 5 October 1871 in Rome

1887 Carte du ciel

•International Association of Academies Established on 1899 in Wiesbaden Towards the 1919 Bruxelles Conference ✴Private preparatory conversations: London, Spring 1918 (Royal Society, Académie des sciences, Accademia dei Lincei) and proposal by George E. Hale

Towards the 1919 Bruxelles Conference American astronomer 1889 - Developed spectroheliograph 1904 - Established the Mount Wilson Observatory 1908 - Discovered that sunspots were magnetic 1916 - National Research Council 1917 - Installed the great telescope of 2,5 m

The scientists of the allied and associated nations were unable to subscribe to the Prussian view that might is right in international relations. (William W. Campbell, director of Lick Observatory)

The constitution in the various Allied countries of a national research council, including those referring to the national defense, similar to the one already working in the United States (London 1918)

George Ellery Hale(1868-1938) ✴Private preparatory conversations: London, Spring 1918 (Royal Society, Académie des sciences, Accademia dei Lincei) and proposal by George E. Hale

✴London, October 9-11, 1918 - Burlington House: First Inter- allied Conference on International Organization (ongoing war) ✴Paris, November 26-29, 1918 - Académie des Sciences: Second Conference, a few days after the end of the WWI

Towards the 1919 Bruxelles Conference Highly respected Jewish scientist in Italy and abroad 1897 - Italian Physics Society 1900 - Professor of mathematical physics at the University of Rome 1905 - Senator of the Kingdom of Italy 1907 - Italian Society for the Progress of Science 1917 - Invention and Research Office

A general plan of international organizations for needs of different branches of scientific and industrial researches (London 1918) it was formally established, under the name of the Astronomical Union, an international association whose aim is the general progress of astronomy and related sciences and arts (Paris 1918)

Vito Volterra (1860-1940) ✴Private preparatory conversations: London, Spring 1918 (Royal Society, Académie des sciences, Accademia dei Lincei) and proposal by George E. Hale

✴Bruxelles, July 18-28, 1919 - Palais des Académies: Third Conference, for constituting the International Research Council Towards the 1919 Bruxelles Conference Paris 1918

President General Secretary Benjamin Baillaud Alfred Fowler William Campbell (1848-1934) (1868-1940) (1862-1938)

Notes by Riccò for the Frank Dyson Georges Lecointe Annibale Riccò agenda of the first IAU (1868-1939) (1869-1929) (1844-1919) Constitutive Assembly First IAU Executive Commission 1889 - Director of Palermo Observatory 1890 - Professor of Astrophysics (the first chair in Italy), and Director of Catania Observatory 1890 - Carte du Ciel 1887 - 1914 Eclipse expeditions (Russia, Algeria, and Crimea)

1906 - He awarded gold medal by Académie des Sciences for Astrophysics 1910 - He showed the presence of the cyanogen in the Halley comet 1910 - He awarded the Lincei Prize for Astronomy Annibale Riccò (1844-1919) 6 July 1920 Why does Fowler talk about Italy as a later associate member? •Lack of a national body, link between Italian astronomers and IAU •Death of Annibale Riccò (23 Sept.1919) and Elia Millosevich (5 Dec.), his successor inside the IAU EC. •Primarily, the formal IAU membership was subjected to payment of an annual fee of 12,000 francs, not yet paid by Italy in July 1920. The Italian IAU membership The Italian Astronomical Society The Italian Astronomical Society 7 January 1920 ‘Società Astronomica Italiana’ was established from the legacy of ‘Società degli Spettroscopisti Italiani’

Organizing Committee

V. Cerulli A. Bemporad E. Bianchi (1859-1927) (1875-1945) (1875-1941)

A. Garbasso V. Volterra (1871-1933) The Italian Astronomical Society Vito Volterra was the real driving force behind the Italian participation in the new international scientific arena in that period. He founded the ‘Comitato nazionale astronomico italiano’, the official body to represent Italy within the International Astronomical Union and to coordinate the complex organization of the GA. The Board of the National Astronomical Committee was just the entire Organizing Committee of the new Astronomical Society.

The National Astronomical Committee The organization of the 1922 joint GA is operative:

✴Cost of 100,000 lire (100,000 ) ✴Headquarters: Accademia dei Lincei ✴But the annual fee for 1920 is not yet paid…

The IAU fee for 1920 The organization of the 1922 joint GA is operative:

✴Cost of 100,000 lire (100,000 ) ✴Headquarters: Accademia dei Lincei ✴But the annual fee for 1920 is not yet paid…

The IAU fee for 1920 The organization of the 1922 joint GA is operative:

✴Cost of 100,000 lire (100,000 ) ✴Headquarters: Accademia dei Lincei ✴But the annual fee for 1920 is not yet paid…

The IAU fee for 1920 1908 - Astronomical training in US with G. E. Hale 1913 - Expedition in Himalaya and Karakoram 1918 - Military attaché at the Washington Embassy (delegate of Invention and Research Office) 1921-1953 Director of the Arcetri Observatory 1925 - Inauguration of the Arcetri Solar Tower

1929 - Das Sonnersystem (vol 4. Handbuch der Astrophysik) 1929 - He awarded the Lincei Prize for Astronomy 1928-1932 & 1938-1952 - IAU VicePresident

Giorgio Abetti (1882-1992) The scientific work of the IAU was carried on by Standing Committees. National Committee invited all the Italian astronomers to submit their topics to the Board and several proposals were presented. In particular, the proposal for the Relativity Commission to verify the relativistic theory in the gravitational field of Jupiter

The first Bulletin of the National Committee with the invitation to Cerulli's note submit proposals for the GA on Italian proposals The General Assembly organization The scientific program was discussed by Fowler especially with Giorgio Abetti. On March 1922 the program was defined and approved by Fowler, who declared: “The programme is very interesting, and I think we shall all be pleased with the arrangements which have been made by our Italian colleagues”.

Program of GA 16 Observations physiques de planèts, des comètes, e des satellites : E, Bianchi, V. Cerulli 18 Longitudes par télégraphie sans fil : A. Antoniazzi. C. Bardeloni, F. Ferri

T. Levi Civita F. Angelitti 19 Variation des latitudes : E. Bianchi, A. Bemporad, L. Volta Prosecuzione20 Observation dei lavori de di positionsriduzione et calcul des éphémérides des del catalogopetites fotografico planètes Catanese , des comètes, et des satellites : A. Abetti, 4 Ephémerides : L. Carnera E. Bianchi, B. Viaro 5 Analyses de travaux et de bibliographie : G. Silva 23 Carte du ciel : V. Balbi, A. Bemporad, G. Zappa 7 Astronomie dynamique e des tables astronomiques : 24 Parallaxes stellaires : G. Abetti A. Antoniazzi, G. Armellini 8 Astronomie méridienne : F. Contarino, A. Di Legge 26 Etoiles doubles : G. Abetti 9 Instruments astronomiques : G. Occhialini, 27 Etoiles variables : A. Bemporad, E. Padova G. Silva 28 Nébuleuses et amas stellaires : G. Horn d’Arturo 12 Physique Solaire : G. Abetti, A. Bemporad, 31 Heure: A. Antoniazzi A. Favaro Distribuzione di lavoro nelle osservazioni fotometriche stellari Prosecuzione delle osservazioni pireliometriche italiane in località adatte Meeting commissions The answer of Boccardi, Director of Turin Observatory: The money request “The honour of our Country is at stake here, to Italian Directors and it’s good not publicize its miseries abroad“.

...but still financial problems for the 1921 fee! The answer of Boccardi, Director of Turin Observatory: The money request “The honour of our Country is at stake here, to Italian Directors and it’s good not publicize its miseries abroad“.

...but still financial problems for the 1921 fee! 2 May 1922 Inaugural Ceremony in the Horatii and Curiatii Hall of Conservators palace on Campidoglio at the presence of the king Vittorio Emanuele III and the Prince Umberto. 18 national delegations, including the Cardinal Pietro Maffi, president of Vatican Observatory, the first time of a papal representative to visit Rome since With the harmonious fusion of numerous 1870. intelligences addressed to various disciplines, but with the same ideal, with the union of forces of Welcome addresses different nature, but competing for a common Giannetto Valli (major of Rome) purpose, and with the broad cooperation of scholars of various sciences, the conflicts are Vito Volterra (president of the Organising Committee) attenuated ... and the difficulties are overcome Benjamin Baillaud (president of IAU) against which a single mind, even if very high, but Charles Lallemand (president of the IGGU) isolated, would struggle in vain. Antonino Anile (minister of Public Instruction) Vito Volterra The Assembly finally started Welcome cocktail

The Italian committee took care to provide for both formal and informal social events

• A reception by Anile in the Palatine Gardens • The ladies of committee offered tea in the halls of Accademia dei Lincei

Official social events 3 May 1922

meeting started at the Accademia dei Lincei in the current Library hall under the Presidency of Benjamin Baillaud

Vincenzo Cerulli taken a vibrant appeal for opening IAU to all the nations

meeting started at the Accademia dei Lincei in the current Library hall under the Presidency of Benjamin Baillaud

Vincenzo Cerulli taken a vibrant appeal for opening IAU to all the nations

Life Conditions of our Union is the Universality, for Urania to really benefit from it, it is necessary for the Union to be extended to all the acculturated people. The distinction between participant and not participant nations must be eliminated. The Conference finally began The role of Italy was particularly appreciated for the studies and observations of prominences inside the Solar Physics Commission As for the statistics of prominences, it is well known that these have been published regularly by the Italian observers since the time of Secchi. It is desirable that this work should be continued under the general direction of Dr. Abetti, who has succeeded the late Professor Riccò as a member of this Committee, and is devoting his chief attention to solar research in Arcetri.

A negative point for Italy : the non-participation of the Catania Observatory in the work of the Carte du Ciel Commission

The Rome meeting must be regarded as a landmark in the path by which international help and co-operation in Astronomy is to be restored after the break of recent years. It will provide very pleasant memories to those members who took part in it, memories which should bear good fruit in the years to come. Participants to the first GA IAU, received by the Pope Pio XI, on 10 May 1922 GA IAU participants visiting Villa d’Este in Tivoli A tour to Florence, 12 May 1922 At the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory The celebrative scroll October 1922 March on Rome. Beginning of the fascist regime. 1938 racial laws and expulsion of Jewish scientists Also the astronomers Guido Horn d'Arturo, Azeglio and Giulio Bemporad and Luigi Jacchia were forced to leave their office.

After the First GA… The Italian astronomical technology grew up, but the cultural impoverishment generated by Fascism confined Italy into a marginal role inside the international scientific cooperation.

Arcetri Solar Tower 1925 Asiago Observatory 1942 Tuscolo Observatory 1938 Only the second Italian IAU GA (Rome 1952) marked a new beginning for Italian astrophysics. But this is another story…