Mara Miniati

Seventeenth-century telescope optics of Torricelli, Divini, and Campani.

Optics of telescope makers Torricelli, Divini, and Campani dating back to the 17th century have been tested interferometrically. It was found that the optical polishing technology had progressed to thorough control over the surface figure and finish, while the nearly paraxial conditions of the aperture remained constant. The instruments that were examined exemplify the knowledge of optics of that time, particularly with respect to the early use of erector units in terrestrial telescopes.

ABOUT THE FLORENTINE STROZZI MANUSCRIPTS

title SUMMARY /title The Archivio di Stato of Florence preserves an incredible amount of manuscripts. The Strozzi series constitute a large group which includes correspondences and private and public documents from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Trying to find additional information on the mathematical instruments from the Strozzi family collections sold in 1911 in Amsterdam, this paper introduces this enormous archive, its history and that of this very important Florentine family.

SUL RESTAURO DI DUE GLOBI DI MATTHÄUS GREUTER

SUMMARY This paper contains an account of the restoration of two globes signed by Matthaus Greuter and preserved at the Museo di Storia della Scienza, Florence.