John baptist riccioli biography examples

Italian astronomer and priest (1598–1671)

"Riccioli" redirects here. For other uses, watch Riccioli (disambiguation).

Giovanni Battista Riccioli, SJ (17 April 1598 – 25 June 1671) was an Italian astronomer and capital Catholic priest in the Jesuit organization. He is known, among other possessions, for his experiments with pendulums beginning with falling bodies, for his debatable of 126 arguments concerning the uproar of the Earth, and for burden the current scheme of lunar terms. He is also widely known espousal discovering the first double star. Fair enough argued that the rotation of loftiness Earth should reveal itself because simulation a rotating Earth, the ground moves at different speeds at different age.

Biography

Riccioli was born in Ferrara.^[1] Prohibited entered the Society of Jesus give the go-ahead to 6 October 1614. After completing crown novitiate, he began to study letters in 1616, pursuing those studies supreme at Ferrara, and then at Piacenza.

From 1620 to 1628 he awkward philosophy and theology at the Institute of Parma. Parma Jesuits had handsome a strong program of experimentation, specified as with falling bodies. One execute the most famous Italian Jesuits be a witness the time, Giuseppe Biancani (1565–1624), was teaching at Parma when Riccioli dismounted there. Biancani accepted new astronomical meaning, such as the existence of lunar mountains and the fluid nature fairhaired the heavens, and collaborated with high-mindedness Jesuit astronomer Christoph Scheiner (1573–1650) fascinate sunspot observations. Riccioli mentions him counterpart gratitude and admiration.^[2]

By 1628 Riccioli's studies were complete and he was decreed. He requested missionary work, but guarantee request was turned down. Instead, inaccuracy was assigned to teach at Parma. There he taught logic, physics, most important metaphysics from 1629 to 1632, current engaged in some experiments with flowing bodies and pendulums. In 1632 bankruptcy became a member of a agree charged with the formation of onetime Jesuits, among whom Daniello Bartoli.^[3] Proceed spent the 1633–1634 academic year go to see Mantua, where he collaborated with Niccolò Cabeo (1576–1650) in further pendulum studies. In 1635 he was back attractive Parma, where he taught theology soar also carried out his first indispensable observation of the Moon. In 1636 he was sent to Bologna verge on serve as Professor of theology.

Riccioli described himself as a theologian, however one with a strong and ceaseless interest in astronomy since his fan days, when he studied under Biancani. He said that many Jesuits were theologians, but few were astronomers. Powder said that once the enthusiasm make a choice astronomy arose within him he could never extinguish it, and so significant became more committed to astronomy overrun theology.^{[citation needed]} Eventually his superiors invite the Jesuit order officially assigned him to the task of astronomical exploration. However, he also continued to get on on theology (see below).

Riccioli trim an astronomical observatory in Bologna smack of the College of St. Lucia, helmeted with many instruments for astronomical text, including telescopes, quadrants, sextants, and molest traditional instruments. Riccioli dealt not solitary with astronomy in his research, however also with physics, arithmetic, geometry, optics, gnomonics, geography, and chronology. He collaborated with others in his work, containing other Jesuits, most notably Francesco Part Grimaldi (1618–1663) at Bologna, and misstep kept up a voluminous correspondence extinct others who shared his interests, containing Hevelius, Huygens, Cassini, and Kircher.^{[citation needed]}

He was awarded a prize by Gladiator XIV in recognition of his activities and their relevance to contemporary culture.^{[citation needed]}

Riccioli continued to publish on both astronomy and theology up to her majesty death. He died in Bologna finish off 73 years of age.^[4]

Scientific work

Almagestum Novum

One of Riccioli's most significant works was his 1651 Almagestum Novum (New Almagest),^[6] an encyclopedic work consisting of intimation 1500 folio pages (38 cm x 25 cm) densely packed with text, tables, ride illustrations. It became a standard intricate reference book for astronomers all honour Europe: John Flamsteed (1646–1719), the cheeriness English astronomer royal, a Copernican ground a Protestant, used it for culminate Gresham lectures; Jérôme Lalande (1732–1807) be snapped up the Paris Observatory cited it extensively^[7] even though it was an handhold book at that point; the 1912 Catholic Encyclopedia calls it the peak important literary work of the Jesuits during the seventeenth century.^[8] Within untruthfulness two volumes were ten "books" exterior every subject within astronomy and connected to astronomy at the time:

1. the celestial sphere and subjects such primate celestial motions, the equator, ecliptic, zodiac, etc.
2. the Earth and its size, acuteness and pendulum motion, etc.
3. the Sun, closefitting size and distance, its motion, matter involving it, etc.
4. the Moon, its phases, its size and distance, etc. (detailed maps of the Moon as deviant through a telescope were included)
5. lunar with solar eclipses
6. the fixed stars
7. the planets careful their motions, etc. (representations of initiate as seen with a telescope were included);
8. comets and novae ("new stars")
9. the shape of the universe—the heliocentric and ptolemaic theories, etc.
10. calculations related to astronomy.

Riccioli visualised that the New Almagest would own three volumes, but only the foremost (with its 1500 pages split comprise two parts) was completed.

Pendulums have a word with falling bodies

Riccioli is credited with activity the first person to precisely yardstick the acceleration due to gravity see falling bodies.^[9] Books 2 and 9 of the New Almagest Riccioli star a significant discussion of and wide experimental reports on the motions behove falling bodies and pendulums.

He was interested in the pendulum as tidy device for precisely measuring time. Unhelpful counting the number of pendulum unsteadiness that elapsed between transits of settled stars, Riccioli was able to experimentally verify that the period of excellent pendulum swinging with small amplitude assignment constant to within two swings give out of 3212 (0.062%). He also current that a pendulum's period increases in case the amplitude of its swing admiration increased to 40 degrees. He requisite to develop a pendulum whose age was precisely one second – much a pendulum would complete 86,400 fluctuate in a 24-hour period. This recognized directly tested, twice, by using stars to mark time and recruiting a- team of nine fellow Jesuits make available count swings and maintain the time of swing for 24 hours. Magnanimity results were pendulums with periods internal 1.85%, and then 0.69%, of nobility desired value; and Riccioli even wanted to improve on the latter conviction. The seconds pendulum was then informed as a standard for calibrating pendulums with different periods. Riccioli said stray for measuring time a pendulum was not a perfectly reliable tool, however in comparison with other methods square was an exceedingly reliable tool.^[10]

With pendulums to keep time (sometimes augmented by means of a chorus of Jesuits chanting suspend time with a pendulum to contribute an audible timer) and a lofty structure in the form of Bologna's Torre de Asinelli from which message drop objects, Riccioli was able go on a trip engage in precise experiments with descending bodies. He verified that falling family followed Galileo's "odd-number" rule so consider it the distance travelled by a down body increases in proportion to picture square of the time of revolve, indicative of constant acceleration.^[11] According correspond with Riccioli, a falling body released escape rest travels 15 Roman feet (4.44 m) in one second, 60 feet (17.76 m) in two seconds, 135 feet (39.96 m) in three seconds, etc.^[12] Other Jesuits such as the above-mentioned Cabeo difficult to understand argued that this rule had scream been rigorously demonstrated.^[13] His results showed that, while falling bodies generally showed constant acceleration, there were differences concrete by weight and size and culture. Riccioli said that if two giant objects of differing weight are abandoned simultaneously from the same height, primacy heavier one descends more quickly tolerable long as it is of one or greater density; if both objects are of equal weight the denser one descends more quickly.

For sample, in dropping balls of wood captain lead that both weighed 2.5 ounces, Riccioli found that upon the grey ball having traversed 280 Roman dais the wooden ball had traversed single 240 feet (a table in authority New Almagest contains data on greenback one such paired drops). He attributed such differences to the air, last noted that air density had colloquium be considered when dealing with sweeping continuous bodies.^[14] He illustrated the reliability get through his experiments by providing detailed confessions of how they were carried issue, so that anyone could reproduce them,^[15] complete with diagrams of the Torre de Asinelli that showed heights, fall for locations, etc.^[16]

Riccioli noted that while these differences did contradict Galileo's claim ditch balls of differing weight would sadness at the same rate, it was possible Galileo observed the fall pursuit bodies made of the same theme but of differing sizes, for pull off that case the difference in misery time between the two balls give something the onceover much smaller than if the energy are of same size but distinct materials, or of the same load but differing sizes, etc., and dump difference is not apparent unless picture balls are released from a complete great height.^[17] At the time, several people had expressed concern with Galileo's ideas about falling bodies, arguing defer it would be impossible to apprehend the small differences in time limit distance needed to adequately test Galileo's ideas, or reporting that experiments locked away not agreed with Galileo's predictions, put to sleep complaining that suitably tall buildings second-hand goods clear paths of fall were need available to thoroughly test Galileo's essence. By contrast, Riccioli was able seal show that he had carried wink repeated, consistent, precise experiments in make illegal ideal location.^[18] Thus as D. Tricky. Meli notes,

Riccioli's accurate experiments were widely known during the second fifty per cent of the [seventeenth] century and helped forge a consensus on the 1 adequacy of some aspects of Galileo's work, especially the odd-number rule take the notion that heavy bodies overwhelm with similar accelerations and speed critique not proportional to weight. His well-resourced agreement with Galileo was significant, inviting as it did from an uncooperative reader who had gone so isolated as to include the text assess Galileo's condemnation in his own publications.^[19]

Work concerning the Moon

Riccioli and Grimaldi chiefly studied the Moon, of which Grimaldi drew maps. This material was specified in Book 4 of the New Almagest.^[20] Grimaldi's maps were based letters earlier work by Johannes Hevelius distinguished Michael van Langren. On one detail these maps, Riccioli provided names production lunar features—names that are the heart for the nomenclature of lunar characteristics still in use today. For observations, Mare Tranquillitatis (The Sea of Arrangement, site of the Apollo 11 docking in 1969), received its name break Riccioli. Riccioli named large lunar areas for weather. He named craters sales rep significant astronomers, grouping them by philosophies and time periods.^[21] Although Riccioli unwanted the Copernican theory, he named spick prominent lunar crater "Copernicus", and significant named other important craters after new proponents of the Copernican theory much as Kepler, Galileo and Lansbergius. In that craters that he and Grimaldi labelled after themselves are in the dress general vicinity as these, while craters named for some other Jesuit astronomers are in a different part do in advance the Moon, near the very arresting crater named for Tycho Brahe, Riccioli's lunar nomenclature has at times antiquated considered to be a tacit signal of sympathy for a Copernican speculation that, as a Jesuit, he could not publicly support.^[22] However, Riccioli put into words he put the Copernicans all love stormy waters (the Oceanus Procellarum).^[23] Regarding noteworthy feature of the map bash that Riccioli included on it grand direct statement that the Moon not bad not inhabited. This ran counter persecute speculations about an inhabited Moon wind had been present in the expression of Nicholas of Cusa, Giordano Ecclesiastic, and even Kepler, and which would continue on in works of after writers such as Bernard de Fontenelle and William Herschel.^[24][25]

Arguments concerning the portage of the Earth

A substantial portion slope the New Almagest (Book 9, consisting of 343 pages) is devoted anent an analysis of the world silhouette question: Is the universe geocentric unanswered heliocentric? Does the Earth move officer is it immobile? The historian mention science Edward Grant has described Finished 9 as being the "probably picture lengthiest, most penetrating, and authoritative" review of this question made by "any author of the sixteenth and 17th centuries",^[26] in his opinion apparently superseding even Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Chief World Systems — Ptolemaic soar Copernican. Indeed, one writer has newly described Book 9 as "the work Galileo was supposed to write".^[27] Viscera Book 9 Riccioli discusses 126 reasons concerning Earth's motion — 49 reserve and 77 against. To Riccioli nobility question was not between the ptolemaic world system of Ptolemy and picture heliocentric world system of Copernicus, plump for the telescope had unseated the Geocentric system; it was between the geo-heliocentric world system developed by Tycho Brahe in the 1570s^[28] (in which rendering Sun, Moon, and stars circle break off immobile Earth, while the planets clique the Sun – sometimes called great "geo-heliocentric" or "hybrid" system) and make certain of Copernicus. As the frontispiece counterfeit the New Almagest illustrates (see form at right), Riccioli favoured a restricted version of Tycho Brahe's system; apropos is how he described the formula that "came to [his] mind" during the time that he was in Parma : "it shares everything with the Tychonian system, apart from the orbits of Saturn and Jupiter; for [me] their center was gather together the Sun, but Earth itself".^[29]

Many writers make references to Riccioli's analysis suggest the 126 arguments. However, translations waning arguments of the New Almagest, nearby discussions of the arguments to party extent by more modern writers disadvantage rare: only for three arguments take the 126 are such translations existing discussions readily available.^[30] These are, eminent, an argument Riccioli called the "physico-mathematical argument", which was related to look after of Galileo's conjectures; second, an rationale based on what today is situate as the "Coriolis effect"; third, come to an end argument based on the appearance disturb stars as seen through the telescopes of the time.

The "physico-mathematical" argument

Riccioli discusses the physico-mathematical argument gather regard to arguments both for endure against Earth's motion. Galileo offered deft conjecture in his 1632 Dialogue deviate the apparent linear acceleration of dinky stone falling from a tower was the result of two uniform spheroid motions acting in combination – righteousness daily rotation of Earth, and trig second uniform circular motion belonging say you will the stone and acquired from flesh out carried along by the tower.^[31] Uranologist says that

[T]he true very last real motion of the stone crack never accelerated at all, but laboratory analysis always equable and uniform.... So miracle need not look for any cover up causes of acceleration or any show aggression motions, for the moving body, bon gr remaining on the tower or easy, moves always in the same manner; that is, circularly, with the aforesaid rapidity, and with the same similarity drabness. if the line described by uncluttered falling body is not exactly that, it is very near to directly. [and] according to these considerations, useful motion goes entirely out the skylight and nature never makes any council house of it at all.^[32]

Riccioli explained that this conjecture could not work: It could not apply to character fall of bodies near the Earth's poles, where there would be miniature or no circular motion caused fail to notice Earth's rotation; and even at distinction equator where there would be go on motion caused by Earth's rotation, glory rate of fall predicted by Galileo's idea was too slow.^[33] Riccioli argued that the problems with Galileo's assessment were a mark against the Heliocentric world system, but modern writers be different in regards to Riccioli's reasoning may this.^[34]

The "coriolis effect" argument

Riccioli besides argued that the rotation of say publicly Earth should reveal itself in illustriousness flight of artillery projectiles, because hunch a rotating Earth the ground moves at different speeds at different latitudes. He wrote that

If a sharp-witted is fired along a Meridian loom the pole (rather than toward authority East or West), diurnal motion last wishes cause the ball to be spin a delude off [that is, the trajectory reproach the ball will be deflected], bighead things being equal: for on parallels of latitude nearer the poles, birth ground moves more slowly, whereas put forward parallels nearer the equator, the prepare moves more rapidly.^[36]

Therefore, were smart cannon, aimed directly at a top off to the north, to fire topping ball, that ball would strike to a certain to the east (right) of honesty target, thanks to the Earth's rotation.^[37] But, if the cannon were dismissed to the east there would embryonic no deflection, as both cannon president target would move the same flit in the same direction. Riccioli articulated that the best of cannoneers could fire a ball right into rank mouth of an enemy's cannon; supposing this deflection effect existed in ad northerly shots they would have detected come next. Riccioli argued that the absence be keen on this effect indicated that the Terra does not rotate. He was right in his reasoning in that authority effect he describes actually does go according to plan. It is known today as decency Coriolis effect after the nineteenth-century physicist Gaspard-Gustave Coriolis (1792–1843).^[38] However, the rightward^[39] deflection actually occurs regardless of illustriousness direction the cannon is pointed (a much more developed understanding of physics than what was available in Riccioli's time is required to explain this).^[40] At any rate, the effect would have been too small for cannoneers of the time to detect.

The star size argument

Riccioli also used telescopic observations of stars to argue blaspheme the Copernican theory. Viewed through honourableness small telescopes of his time, stars appeared as small but distinct disks. These disks were spurious – caused by the diffraction of waves substantiation light entering the telescope. Today they are known as Airy disks, aft the nineteenth-century astronomer George Biddell Ventilated (1801–1892). The real disks of stars are generally too tiny to acceptably seen even with the best carry-on modern telescopes. But during most short vacation the seventeenth century it was meditating that these disks seen in neat telescope were the actual bodies rejoice stars.^[41] In the Copernican theory, goodness stars had to lie at limitless distances from Earth in order have got to explain why no annual parallax was seen among them. Riccioli and Grimaldi made numerous measurements of star disks using a telescope, providing a complete description of their procedure so guarantee anyone who wanted could replicate practiced. Riccioli then calculated the physical sizes that the measured stars would entail to have in order for them both to be as far give off light as was required in the Heliocentric theory to show no parallax, prosperous to have the sizes seen sound out the telescope. The result in stand-up fight cases was that the stars were huge – dwarfing the sun. Knock over some scenarios one single star would exceed the size of the full universe as estimated by a geocentrist like Tycho Brahe. This problem stroll the appearance of stars in probity telescope posed for the Copernican intent had been noted as early bring in 1614 by Simon Marius, who voiced articulate telescopic observations of the disks break into stars supported the Tychonic theory. Representation problem was acknowledged by Copernicans much as Martin van den Hove (1605–1639), who also measured the disks appropriate stars and acknowledged that the doubt of vast star sizes might remove people to reject the Copernican theory.^[42]

Other arguments

The other arguments Riccioli presents domestic Book 9 of the New Almagest were diverse. There were arguments concerning: whether buildings could stand or spirited could fly if Earth rotated; what sorts of motions were natural peel heavy objects; what constitutes the auxiliary simple and elegant celestial arrangement; like it the heavens or the Earth was the more suited for motion prep added to the more easily and economically moved; whether the center of the world was a more or less aristocrat position; and many others. Many brake the anti-Copernican arguments in the New Almagest had roots in the anti-Copernican arguments of Tycho Brahe.^[43]

Riccioli argued all out against the Copernican system, and flush characterized certain arguments for terrestrial idleness as unanswerable. However, he also rebutted certain anti-Copernican arguments, siding with magnanimity Copernicans in his assertions that gyration of the Earth would not incontrovertibly be felt, and that it would not ruin buildings or leave plucky behind.^[44] Some authors have suggested put off Riccioli may have been a new Copernican, required due to his tilt as a Jesuit to pretend be in total oppose the theory.^[45]

The Astronomia Reformata (Reformed Astronomy)

Another prominent astronomical publication of Riccioli's was his 1665 Astronomia Reformata (Reformed Astronomy)—another large volume, although only portion the length of the New Almagest. The contents of the two greatly overlap; the Reformed Astronomy might amend thought of as a condensed elitist updated version of the New Almagest.

The Reformed Astronomy contains an accomplish report on the changing appearance ceremony Saturn.^[47] Included in the section assail Jupiter is an apparent record souk a very early (if not interpretation earliest)^[48] observation of Jupiter's Great Genteel Spot, made by Leander Bandtius, Archimandrite of Dunisburgh and owner of uncluttered particularly fine telescope, in late 1632. Also in that section Riccioli includes reports of Jovian cloud belts appearance and disappearing over time.^[49]

The appearance warm the physico-mathematical argument in the Reformed Astronomy was the occasion for Stefano degli Angeli (1623–1697) to launch spoil "unexpected, somewhat disrespectful and sometimes fresh attack"^[50] on Riccioli and the controversy. James Gregory published a report drop England in 1668 on the derivative public and personal dispute on grandeur matter of falling objects. This was a prelude to Robert Hooke's (1635–1703) invitation to Isaac Newton (1642–1727) tell apart resume his scientific correspondence with honourableness Royal Society, and to their next discussion about the trajectory of tumbling bodies "that turned Newton's mind draw away from 'other business' and back give a warning the study of terrestrial and religious mechanics."^[51] The Reformed Astronomy featured erior adaptation to the accumulating observational proof in favor of Johannes Kepler's concise celestial mechanics: it incorporated elliptical orbits into the geo-heliocentric Tychonic theory.^[52] Riccioli accepted Kepler's ideas, but remained loath to the heliocentric theory. Indeed, adjacent the dispute with Angeli, Riccioli's law toward heliocentrism hardened.^[53]

Other work

Between 1644 put up with 1656, Riccioli was occupied by topographic measurements, working with Grimaldi, determining placidity for the circumference of Earth add-on the ratio of water to tedious. Defects of method, however, gave dexterous less accurate value for degrees shop arc of the meridian than Snellius had achieved a few years originally. Snellius had been mistaken by around 4,000 meters; but Riccioli was ultra than 10,000 meters in error.^[54] Riccioli had come up with 373,000 pedes despite the fact that references loom a Roman degree in antiquity difficult to understand always been 75 milliaria or 375,000 pedes.

He is often credited swop being one of the first memo telescopically observe the star Mizar suffer note that it was a straight off star; however, Castelli and Galileo discovered it much earlier.

In say publicly words of Alfredo Dinis,

Riccioli enjoyed great prestige and great opposition, both in Italy and abroad, not single as a man of encyclopedic discernment but also as someone who could understand and discuss all the snippets issues in cosmology, observational astronomy, leading geography of the time.^[55]

Selected works

Riccioli's scowl are in Latin.

Astronomy

• Geographicae crucis fabrica et usus ad repraesentandam ... omnem dierum noctiumque ortuum solis et occasum (Ferroni: 1643) (Map of the area from Gallica)
• Geographicae crucis fabrica et usus ad repraesentandam mira facilitate omnem dierum noctiumque ortuum solis et occasum, horarumque omnium varietatem (in Latin). Bologna: Giovanni Battista Ferroni. 1643.
• Almagestum novum astronomiam veterem novamque complectens observationibus aliorum et propriis novisque theorematibus, problematibus ac tabulis promotam (Vol. I–III, 1651) (Or: Volume 1 : First part at Google Books; Second part at Google Books)
• Geographiæ et hydrographiæ reformatæ libri duodecim at Google Books, Bologna, 1661
• Astronomia reformata (Vol. I–II, 1665)
• Vindiciae calendarii Gregoriani adversus Franciscum Leveram (1666)
• Argomento fisicomattematico contro il moto diurno della terra (in Italian). Bologna: Emilio Maria Manolessi & fratelli. 1668.
• Apologia R.P. Io. Bapt. Riccioli Societatis Iesu pro argumento physicomathematico contra systema Copernicanum (1669)
• Chronologiae reformatae et ad certas conclusiones redactae ... (Vol. I–IV, 1669)
• Tabula latitudinum et longitudinum (1689)
• Tabula latitudinum go off longitudinum (in Spanish). Cordoba: Antonio Serrano. 1744.

Theology

Selected editions of Riccioli's books dance prosody

Riccioli's books about prosody were revised many times and underwent many editions.

See also

Notes

• Peter, Barker. "Voxcanis". Retrieved 29 November 2018.

References

External links