Relazione del primo viaggio alla Luna, published in 1857, depicted a woman traveling to the lunar surface in 2057. Its author, Ernesto Capocci, occupied a unique position in nineteenth-century Italy as a mathematician, astronomer, and political figure who navigated the turbulent transition from the Kingdom of Naples to the unified Kingdom of Italy.
Early Career and Astronomical Appointments
Born in Picinisco in 1798, Capocci began his scientific training in 1815 as a student at the Astronomical Observatory of Naples under his uncle, Federigo Zuccari. By 1819, he served as an assistant astronomer at the Capodimonte Observatory, working under the direction of Carlo Brioschi. His scientific reputation grew through international engagement, including periods in Paris where he interacted with François Arago and Alexander von Humboldt. He also facilitated the relocation of Macedonio Melloni to Naples to manage the Meteorological Observatory on Vesuvius.
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King Ferdinand II appointed Capocci as director of the Capodimonte Observatory in 1833. However, his career suffered significant setbacks due to his involvement in the political uprisings of 1848, where he participated alongside his children as a proponent of Risorgimento ideals. These liberal convictions led to his dismissal from the directorship in 1850. Following the political shifts brought by Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1860, he was reinstated to his position and appointed academic librarian. His public service continued in 1861, when he was named a senator of the Kingdom of Italy upon the recommendation of Garibaldi.
Literary and Scientific Contributions
Capocci was a prolific author whose work spanned technical astronomical reports and speculative fiction. His scientific publications included analyses of comets, such as his 1825 work on the five comets of that year, and studies on seismic activity, specifically the 1858 earthquake in Basilicata. His literary output notably predated the moon-travel narratives of Jules Verne. By the time of his death in 1864, he held the status of emeritus professor and had served as president of the Accademia Pontaniana. He was buried in the Poggioreale cemetery in Naples, with a bust by Vincenzo Gemito later marking his tomb.
Fast facts
- Born: 1798, Picinisco
- Died: 1864, Naples
- Director, Capodimonte Observatory: 1833, 1860-1864
- Senator, Kingdom of Italy: 1861-1864
- Awards: Reale Istituto d'Incoraggiamento (1841); Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1861, 1863)
- Notable work: Relazione del primo viaggio alla Luna (1857)
Questions readers ask
What is the significance of Capocci's 1857 science fiction novel?
It described a voyage to the moon set in 2057, appearing eight years before Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon.
Why was Capocci removed from his observatory position in 1850?
He was ousted for his support of liberal, Risorgimento ideas and his participation in the 1848 uprisings.
Achievements
- Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus — 1863
- Fields: mathematics
