Secchi, Pietro Angelo

Secchi, Pietro Angelo

▪ Italian astronomer
born June 29, 1818, Reggio nell'Emilia, duchy of Modena [now in Italy]
died Feb. 26, 1878, Rome, Italy

      Italian Jesuit priest and astrophysicist, who made the first survey of the spectra of stars (star) and suggested that stars be classified according to their spectral type.

      Secchi entered the Society of Jesus in 1833 and became lecturer in physics and mathematics at the Jesuit College in Loreto, Italy, in 1839. He returned to Rome in 1844, where he completed his theological studies and lectured at the Roman College.

      When the Jesuits were expelled from Rome in 1848, Secchi went to Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, Lancashire, Eng., and then to Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Because of his reputation as an astronomer, he was allowed to return to Rome in 1849, where he became professor of astronomy and director of the observatory at the Roman College. He erected a new observatory in which he carried out his research in stellar spectroscopy, terrestrial magnetism, and meteorology.

      From his survey of stellar spectra, Secchi concluded that stars could be arranged in four classes according to the type of spectra they display. These divisions were later expanded into the Harvard classification system, which is based on a simple temperature sequence. Secchi proved that prominences seen during a solar eclipse are features on the Sun itself, and he discovered many aspects of their behaviour and of the finer prominence-like jets of gases now known as spicules.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Secchi , Pietro Angelo — (1818–1878) Italian astronomer Secchi, who was born at Reggio in Italy, was a Jesuit who lectured in physics and mathematics. He spent some time abroad when the Jesuits were expelled from Rome, being at one time professor of physics at Georgetown …   Scientists

  • Secchi — Pietro Angelo …   Scientists

  • Angelo Secchi — Pietro Angelo Secchi (* 29. Juni 1818 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italien; † 26. Februar 1878 in Rom) war ein italienischer Astronom und Jesuitenpater. Secchi schloss sich bereits im Alter von 15 Jahren dem Jesuitenorden an und wurde mit 17 Student am …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Angelo Secchi — Naissance 18 juin 1818 Reggio Emilia (Italie) Décès 26 février 1878 (à 59 ans) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Angelo Secchi — Nacimiento 29 de junio de 1818 Reggio Emilia, Italia Fallecimiento …   Wikipedia Español

  • Secchi —   [ sekki], Pietro Angelo, italienischer Physiker, * Reggio nell Emilia 29. 6. 1818, ✝ Rom 26. 2. 1878; musste als Jesuit 1848 Italien verlassen, wirkte in Stonyhurst (County Lancashire, England) und Georgetown bei Washington (D. C.), 1849… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Angelo Secchi — Infobox Scientist name = Angelo Secchi box width = image width =150px caption = Angelo Secchi birth date = 29 June 1818 birth place = Reggio Emilia death date = 26 February 1878 death place = residence = Rome citizenship = nationality = Italian… …   Wikipedia

  • Secchi disk — The Secchi disk, created in 1865 by Pietro Angelo Secchi, is a circular disk used to measure water transparency in oceans and lakes. The disc is mounted on a pole or line, and lowered slowly down in the water. The depth at which the pattern on… …   Wikipedia

  • Secchi disc — /ˈsɛki dɪsk/ (say sekee disk) noun a disc used to gauge water clarity by measuring the depth at which it is no longer visible from the surface. {created in 1865 by Pietro Angelo Secchi, Italian astronomer, 1818–78} …  

  • Secchi — /sek ee/; It. /sek kee/, n. Pietro Angelo /pye trddaw ahn je law/, 1818 78, Italian Jesuit and astronomer. * * * …   Universalium

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