NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Frank Reed
Date: 2024 Feb 28, 11:34 -0800
Aha. Just glancing at the photo, I had guessed that might be "Superga" and following the APOD link, so it is.
Oddly enough, I read about this basilica and its picturesque location only a couple of months ago. There's a connection to the British Royal Astronomer, George Biddell Airy, and an indirect one to the hard-working private astronomer (technically an "amateur") Francis Baily. Both independently took advantage of the early 19th century "Pax" in western Europe and travelled to northern Italy to observe the total solar eclipse on 8 July 1842. Baily had stunnning views in Pavia while Airy chose the lofty "aerie" of the Basilica of Superga. They were among the very first intentional "eclipse tourists".
Frank Reed
PS: No links... I imagine some of you will enjoy digging into these eclipse adventures on your own.
