His Life

Giovanni Domenico Cassini was born in Perinaldo, Imperia, Italy on June 8, 1625, to Jacopa Cassini and Julia Crovesi. He was raised by his uncle though.

 

He first began Astronomy when he was invited to study with Comelio Malvasia and his observatory in Panzano. He stayed there until February 1669.

 

Then, in 1669, King Louis XIV of France invited Cassini to the Paris observatory. There, Cassini discovered Rhea, Dione, Iapetus, and Tethys. Giovanni had discovered Jupiter’s Great Red Spot previous to this in 1655, so now he had 4 moon to his name along with the spot! In 1665 he calculated the rotation of Jupiter, Mars and Venus.

 

In about 1673, he married a French woman named Geneviéve Delaitre. He continues Astronomy until he went blind in 1710, when he retired. His son, Jacques Cassini succeeded him.

 

Giovanni Domenico Cassini died on September 14, 1712, in Paris France.