Luminous Variations in the City Skies (2019)

Luminous Variations in the City Skies (2019) poster

At Bologna’s Specola Tower, 1932–1957, an optical technology was invented which would revolutionize astronomy. The tower’s four floors were perforated and a series of hexagonal mirrors was installed at its base, creating a giant telescope of 2×24 meters. A mobile camera was set at right angles to the mirrors and thousands of glass plates where exposed which offered a systematic overview of the city’s zenithal sky. Thirty years of research were necessary for the astronomer Guido Horn D’Arturo to invent the specchio a tasselli—also called multimirror or segmented mirror—an archetype of today’s most advanced telescopes. Horn D’Arturo’s photographic plates are now also full of spots and traces of deteriorated emulsions. This film is composed of scans and blow-ups of these plates.

Director: Giuseppe Spina
Genre: Documentary, Animation
Runtime: 7 min
Release Date:
Country: Italy
Language: No Language
Original Language: it
More Films by Director: Giuseppe Spina
More Films in Genre: Documentary, Animation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Luminous Variations in the City Skies about?
At Bologna’s Specola Tower, 1932–1957, an optical technology was invented which would revolutionize astronomy. The tower’s four floors were perforated and a series of hexagonal mirrors was installed at its base, creating a giant telescope of 2×24 meters. A mobile camera was set at right angles to the mirrors and thousands of glass plates where exposed which offered a systematic overview of the city’s zenithal sky. Thirty years of research were necessary for the astronomer Guido Horn D’Arturo to invent the specchio a tasselli—also called multimirror or segmented mirror—an archetype of today’s most advanced telescopes. Horn D’Arturo’s photographic plates are now also full of spots and traces of deteriorated emulsions. This film is composed of scans and blow-ups of these plates.
Who directed Luminous Variations in the City Skies?
Luminous Variations in the City Skies was directed by Giuseppe Spina.
How long is Luminous Variations in the City Skies?
Luminous Variations in the City Skies has a runtime of 7m (7 minutes).
What genre is Luminous Variations in the City Skies?
Luminous Variations in the City Skies is a Documentary, Animation film.
Where was Luminous Variations in the City Skies produced?
Luminous Variations in the City Skies was produced in Italy.