SCIENCE FICTION IN NAPLES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 19TH CENTURY MASSIMO CAPACCIOLI 1 , EMILIA OLOSTRO CIRELLA 1 , ENRICA STENDARDO 2 and NICLA VIRGILIO 2 1 Capodimonte Astronomical Observatory, Naples, Italy; 2 Second University of Naples, Santa Maria Capua Vetere (CE), Italy Abstract. Astronomer, intellectual, passionate patriot, and refined humanist, Ernesto Capocci Bel- monte (Picinisco, May 31, 1798 – Naples, January 6, 1864) was a prominent figure of the scientific, cultural, and political life in Naples around the middle of the 19th century. He acquired international recognition for his studies on the orbits of comets and, since 1833, he was named director of the newly built Osservatorio Astronomico in Capodimonte: A prestigious position that he lost for political retaliation as a result of his participation in the movement against the Bourbon rulers in 1848, but which he regained in 1860 upon the arrival in Naples of Giuseppe Garibaldi. An intuitive and open- minded scholar, he looked always at the contemporary experiences in Europe and, as a scientist and cultivated human being, he sought to serve the community by enthusiastically devoting himself also to education and public outreach. He developed clear interests in literature and, as a forerunner, he dared to tackle the genre of science fiction. His short novel Relazione del viaggio alla Luna fatto da una donna nell’anno di grazia 2057 (Report of the Trip to the Moon done by a Woman in the Year of our Lord 2057), written in the period of his exile from the Observatory and practically given up as lost until a private copy was found in the library of one of Capocci’s descendants, offers an interesting overview of astronomical knowledge and taste for the elegance in writing, and gives an unusual, and often ironic, viewpoint on the situation of sciences in Naples in the middle of the 19th century. Earth, Moon and Planets 85–86: 515, 2001. © 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.

Science Fiction In Naples In The Middle Of The 19th Century

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SCIENCE FICTION IN NAPLES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 19THCENTURY

MASSIMO CAPACCIOLI1, EMILIA OLOSTRO CIRELLA1, ENRICA STENDARDO2

and NICLA VIRGILIO2

1Capodimonte Astronomical Observatory, Naples, Italy; 2Second University of Naples, SantaMaria Capua Vetere (CE), Italy

Abstract. Astronomer, intellectual, passionate patriot, and refined humanist, Ernesto Capocci Bel-monte (Picinisco, May 31, 1798 – Naples, January 6, 1864) was a prominent figure of the scientific,cultural, and political life in Naples around the middle of the 19th century. He acquired internationalrecognition for his studies on the orbits of comets and, since 1833, he was named director of the newlybuilt Osservatorio Astronomico in Capodimonte: A prestigious position that he lost for politicalretaliation as a result of his participation in the movement against the Bourbon rulers in 1848, butwhich he regained in 1860 upon the arrival in Naples of Giuseppe Garibaldi. An intuitive and open-minded scholar, he looked always at the contemporary experiences in Europe and, as a scientist andcultivated human being, he sought to serve the community by enthusiastically devoting himself alsoto education and public outreach. He developed clear interests in literature and, as a forerunner, hedared to tackle the genre of science fiction. His short novel Relazione del viaggio alla Luna fattoda una donna nell’anno di grazia 2057 (Report of the Trip to the Moon done by a Woman in theYear of our Lord 2057), written in the period of his exile from the Observatory and practically givenup as lost until a private copy was found in the library of one of Capocci’s descendants, offers aninteresting overview of astronomical knowledge and taste for the elegance in writing, and gives anunusual, and often ironic, viewpoint on the situation of sciences in Naples in the middle of the 19thcentury.