Equatorial Sector built by Jeremiah Sisson

It was the 26th of April 1861 and Giovanni V. Schiaparelli was 26 years old. On that day he was at the Brera Astronomical Observatory where he made the first scientific discovery in the newly united Italy: the asteroid Esperia. With this ancient telescope he studied the 1862-II comet, thanks to which he explained the phenomenon of shooting stars, attaining international fame. Years later, his work inspired research on extraterrestrial life.