Menage à trois

Dear Friends

yesterday took place the announced Astronomical Evening "Menage à Trois" organised by our M.Polo Club, the Astro Club / EurAstro Association and the Anton Club. "Menage à trois", is mainly referred to be the conjunction of the planets Mercury, Venus and Jupiter which rather fortuitously we observed through the clouds, rather to the three club's organisation of said Evening. Our Etienne provided all the technical support, Jean-Luc projected and commented images of our recent journey to Finland, see in this blog:

http://m-polo.blogspot.nl/2013/03/aurorae-2013.html

http://m-polo.blogspot.nl/2013/03/finland-etno-activities.html

http://m-polo.blogspot.nl/2013/03/helsinki.html

http://m-polo.blogspot.nl/2013/03/helsinki-atheneum-luomus.html

and other images of solar eclipses providing information and tipps about astronomical imagery and me, I was the free lance reporter of the Evening. After, the projection it was possible to observe said spectacular and very rare conjunction.

The images give you an idea of the convivial atmosphere of the Evening.

Salutations

Giancarlo

 

 

 

Planetarium - Stuttgart (DE)

Dear Friends
evidently the architecture of the Planetarium of Stuttgart (DE) is inspired by the Maya's or Doser's and Mesopotamian step piramyds: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_pyramid .
Jean-Luc and me were interested not only to the projection, which provided us with well known astronomical information, but to the technical means (G09B27/00 - for those familiar with the patent classification) allowing such projection. The Planetarium hosts under a cupola a modern digital "one egg" Zeiss projector wich recently replaced an old opto-mechanical "two eggs" Zeiss projector still visible in the hall of the Planetarium.
The images provide you with an idea of the capabilities of the Planetarium and its instrumentation.
Salutations
Giancarlo

Linden Museum - Stuttgart (DE)

Dear Friends
the Linden Museum in Stuttgart (DE) hosts permanent etno collections of artifacts from cultures all over the planet: http://www.lindenmuseum.de/englisch/. Of interest, among others, the collections of artifacts from African, South-Asian, Arabian and Islamic cultures. The effort of the organiser and preparators for rendering different aspects of said cultures is appreciable and the artifacts exposed are of very high quality. Fortunately, it was allowed to take images but detailed image galleries for illustrating all the cultures presented at the Museum is here not possible. Consequently, only an image gallery of the Arabian and Islamic cultures will be presented here - surprisingly many artifacts presented humans or animal forms. In case of questions concerning the other cultures presented at the Museum, please let me know.
Salutations
Giancarlo

 

Maya Code - Stuttgart (DE)

Dear Friends
as announced, last Sunday took place the announced M.Polo excursion to Stuttgart. Aims of the excursion was the visit of the temporary exhibition Maya Code:
http://www.lindenmuseum.de/maya-code/
at the Linden Museum: http://www.lindenmuseum.de/
and of the Planetarium. Concerning the Maya Code, the exhibition presents on one side boards describing the Maya's Calendar and the method they adopted for precise datation and the Maya's writings - see also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_script
and on the other side many Maya's high quality, fine and expressive artifacts illustrating their daily life in which peaceful and for us horrific elements (cranial deformation and human sacrificies) were mixed. Please, have a look to the images and send me your feed-back.
Salutations
Giancarlo

Malta a Verona

Dear Alexei and dear Friends
everybody know the Souvereign Military Order of Malta:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta
and its epic history. The Order, now engaged in humanitarian
and charitativere projects, is recognised by many States as
a state in itself and accept SMOM Priorates (embassies or seats)
on its own territories. In my last visit, I was surprised of reco-
gnising that one of this Priorates (Delegazione per la Provincia
di Verona) is in Verona annexed to the Santa Toscana Church
- see the images.
Saluti
Giancarlo

 

Roman Verona - Doughters of Jesus School

Dear Friends
I have to thank the Italian Archaeological Service of Verona and the Directress of the Doughters of Jesus School - http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figlie_di_Ges%C3%B9_(Verona) - for the kind permission of visiting the caves of the School in which archaeologists has excavated and investigated Roman ruins of the period of Emperor Gallienus (218-268 a.D.) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallienus , a period troubled by barbarian invasions and indigenuous riots. The troubles of said period are reflected by the apparent emergency in which the structures discovered in said caves were built:
- a portions of the Gallienus' wall disorderly and cheaply built by re-using parts of other, previous Roman constructions;
- the ruin of a small fortified point or tower also built by re-using portions of  previous Roman constructions;
- the rest of presumably a Roman road; and
- the rest of a Roman elegant house decorated with mosaics not particularly elaborated.
Please, have a look to the images and send me your feed back.
Saluti
Giancarlo