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Early European astronomers determined Easter dates

27 March 2002

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Cassini's Sun calendar in the Basilica of San Petronio

In this Sun calendar, a hole in the ceiling of the cathedral projects a shaft of sunlight onto this bronze strip on the pavement below which is engraved with the days of the year and signs of the zodiac. The Basilica of San Petronio is in Bologna, Italy.

Credits: Calter Photo

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Cassini discovered the Saturnian satellites Lapetus in 1671, Rhea in 1672, and both Tethys and Dione in 1684. In 1675 he discovered what is now known today as the Cassini Division - Saturn's rings are split largely into two parts by a narrow gap and that the rings were in fact swarms of tiny moonlets too small to be seen individually.

Credits: Observatoire de Paris

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Cassini-Huygens swings by Earth and accelerates towards Saturn

Credits: ESA