Italian Astronomical Observations

(Click on any of the photos below to see the larger version.)

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In the central piazza of Augusta we found this plaque commemorating the total solar eclipse of Dec 22, 1870. Raina's great grandparents were probably right here watching it.

A church in Siracusa had this asymmetrical sundial on its front wall.

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A shop in Taormina offered these ceramic sundials with traditional numbering.

The clock tower in Messina provided a zodiac dial for the benefit of local astrologers.

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The same clock tower had a calendar clock that we saw, as you might imagine, on May 30, 2011. It will need a serious redesign in the year 9999.


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