Giacomo F. Maraldi

Giacomo Filippo Maraldi (August 21,1665 – December 1,1729) was an French-Italian astronomer and mathematician. His name is also given as Jacques Philippe Maraldi.

Related Topics:
August 21 - 1665 - December 1 - 1729 - French - Italian - Astronomer - Mathematician

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He was the nephew of Giovanni Cassini, and worked most of his life at the Paris Observatory (1687 – 1718). He also is the uncle of Jean-Dominique Maraldi.

Related Topics:
Giovanni Cassini - Paris Observatory - 1687 - 1718 - Jean-Dominique Maraldi

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From 1700 until 1718 he worked on a catalog of fixed stars, and from 1672 until 1719 he studied Mars extensively.

Related Topics:
1700 - 1718 - Fixed star - 1672 - 1719 - Mars

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His most famous astronomical discovery was that the ice caps on Mars are not exactly on the rotational poles of that body. He also recognized that the corona visible during a solar eclipse belongs to the Sun not to the Moon, and he discovered R Hydrae as a variable star.

Related Topics:
Corona - Solar eclipse - Sun - Moon - R Hydrae - Variable star

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He also helped with the survey based on the Paris Meridian.

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In mathematics he is most known for obtaining experimentally the angle in the dodecahedron shape in 1712, which is still called Maraldi angle.

Related Topics:
Mathematics - Angle - Dodecahedron - 1712 - Maraldi angle

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Craters on the Moon and Mars were named in his and his nephew's honor.

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