Angelo Adamo

Where telescopes cannot (yet) see: Moon and Saturn as ‘seen’ by Scriven Bolton, Lucien Rudaux, Étienne Trouvelot, Chesley Bonestell

Abstract

Scientific illustrations, thanks to the vision of great artists fascinated by astronomical research and astronautics, have provided us with an accurate depiction of the possible views which mankind will one day observe from locations other than our planet. In this talk I will pay homage to some of these geniuses who serve science, and underline the scientific, artistic, political and social implications deriving from a wise use of space-art.

Biography

I work as outreach officer at the Bologna Astronomical Observatory and I’m attending the PhD course in Astrophysics at Insubria University in Como, Italy, working on Cherenkov Telescope Array (C.T.A.). Apart from this, my main interests concern cultural astronomy, philosophy of science and the relationships between science and art. In addition to the bachelor in astronomy, I took also:
- The title of ‘Master in Science Communication’ at the I.S.A.S. Centre in
- Trieste, Italy
- A degree in ‘Music for Multimedia Applications (composition and comping)’ at the Bologna Conservatory
- A degree in ‘Comics ‘ at the Fine Arts Department of the same City.
I work also as an illustrator, a comic-stripe drawer and as musician (my main instrument is the chromatic harmonica). I have published two books:
- Planets Among Notes, Springer 2009;
- Tales of Suns and Moons, Giraldi, 2009.
I have presented both in the Poster Session of INSAP VI (Venice, 2009). In addition, I have also illustrated Astrokid.