Giovanni Cassini

Giovanni Domenico Cassini was born June 8, 1625 at Perinaldo[?], Republic of Genoa[?] (now Italy) and died September 14, 1712

Astronomy

Observed at the Panzano Observatory from 1648 to 1669. Became Professor of Astronomy at the University of Bologna[?] and director of the Paris Observatory in 1671. He was the first to observe four of Saturn's moons and gave his name to the Cassini Division[?], the gap between Saturn's rings.

Engineering

An expert on hydraulics and engineering, he was employed by the Pope on fortifications and river management and flooding of the River Po[?].