Famous Italian astronomers

Giovanni Cassini was a 17th century Italian mathematician, astronomer and astrologer. This biography of Giovanni Cassini provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Quick Facts

Famous as

Astronomer and Mathematician

Nationality

religion

Catholicism

Born on

Sun Sign

Born in

Perinaldo

Died on

mother

Julia Crovesi

Spouse/Partner:

Geneviève de Laistre

children

Jacques Cassini

Image Credit

Giovanni Cassini was a 17th century Italian mathematician, astronomer and astrologer, most famous for discovering four satellites of the planet Saturn. He was also the first person to discover the division of the rings of Saturn, which later came to be known as the Cassini Division. His initial studies in the field of astronomy were principally observations of the Sun but he eventually turned his attention to the planets after acquiring more powerful telescopes. As a young man he received his education from the Jesuit College at Genoa where he studied under Casselli. He displayed a great interest in astrology, astronomy and mathematics as a youth. He read extensively on astrology and became very knowledgeable on the subject. Ironically, it was his knowledge in astrology that led to his career as an astronomer. Once he shifted his focus to astronomy and became involved in the Scientific Revolution, he all but denounced astrology. Cassini was also a renowned engineer of his times. He worked on the fortifications, river management, and flooding of the Po River at the request of Pope Clement IX and began work on the project of creating a topographic map of France which was eventually completed by his grandson César-François Cassini de Thury.

Childhood & Early Life

• Not much is known about the early life of Giovanni Cassini. He was born on 8 June 1625, in Perinaldo, Republic of Genova, to Jacopo Cassini, a Tuscan, and Julia Crovesi. Some sources state that he was not raised by his parents but by an uncle, a brother of his mother.