##############
FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT
##############
"Schiaparelli and his legacy"

Milano, Palazzo Brera, October 19-20
Torino, Biblioteca Universitaria Nazionale, October 21

Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli was one of the most important astronomers
of his times. Born in Savigliano (CN) where he developed his first
interests in astronomy, he graduated in Torino  and soon after became
the Director of the Brera Observatory just at the time of Italy's
unification.  Most of his work is based on observations made at and with
instruments at Brera, where he was active for over 40 years.
According to his contemporaries, he had an insatiable thirst for
knowledge, a vigor of intellect that knew no inactivity and a
versatility without apparent limit. He gave fundamental contributions to
the study of Solar Systems bodies, such as meteors and their origin,
Mercury and Mars, and to the history of astronomy.  He was also a
believer in the importance of explaining science and disseminate the
scientific results to the public at large.  This conference is part of
the celebrations organized in the centennial of his death. It is
intended to highlight his accomplishments during his life and to
illustrate his legacy to present day astronomy.


The conference will consist of:
1) a first day devoted to the role of Schiaparelli and his achievements
2) a second day devoted to scientific talks, in particular on planetary
sciences
3) a third day devoted to the new technologies and exploratory missions
of the Solar System.

The first two days will be held in Milano. The aim of the presentations
on the first day will be to celebrate the scientific results that
Schiaparelli obtained while alive and working, his interesting and
complex personality, the status of astronomy at his time and the
international links he established through letters and collaborations
with contemporary astronomers and the scientific community. The second
day will focus on the modern view of planetary science, with
presentations on our current understanding of Mars, Mercury, comets and
the discovery of exoplanets.

The program in Torino will be dedicated to the presentation of the
future space missions for the exploration of the Solar System, which
are ideally connected to the scientific contributions by Schiaparelli.
It will include presentations on either technology and scientific
aspects relevant to the EXOMARS 2016 and 2018 missions, the coming
Mercury (Bepi Colombo) and Sun (Solar Orbiter) projects, the future of
the Human Exploration from the International Space Station towards Moon,
Asteroids and finally Mars. The main strategies of Space Agencies and
National Industry, the future Cosmic Vision and Next Hard X-Ray Missions
will also be discussed together with the associated technological
challenges.

TALKS:
The conference is based on invited/solicited talks, with limited space
for few short contributions. A title and an abstract of the proposed
contributions should be sent to the official e-mail address of the
conference: for_schiaparelli@brera.inaf.it

PROCEEDINGS:
We are negotiating with the SAIt to publish the proceedings in the
MEMORIE della Società Astronomica Italiana.

WEB SITE:
The official website for the conference is:
http://www.brera.inaf.it/schiaparelli2010
where you can find the updated information on the program and the logistics.

REGISTRATION FORM:
http://www.brera.inaf.it/interroga/dbServer?page=schiaparelli

VENUE
MILANO:  The conference will be held in the "Sala Napoleonica" in
Palazzo Brera, via Brera 28. Palazzo Brera hosts the official site of
the Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera in Milan, the oldest scientific
institution still active in Milan, the Pinacoteca di Brera (Fine Arts
Gallery), the School of Fine Arts, the Braidense Library and the
Botanical Garden.  The conference is hosted by the Istituto Lombardo
Accademia di Scienze e Lettere and the Osservatorio Astronomico d Brera,
under the auspices  of the Universita' degli Studi di Milano, and the
Polo dei Musei scientifici di Milano

TORINO: The conference will be held in the auditorium of the Biblioteca
Nazionale Universitaria, Piazza Carlo Alberto 3, under the auspices of
the Accademia delle Scienze di Torino, the University of Torino, the
Politecnico di Torino, the Consorzio Universitario per la Fisica
Spaziale and Thales Alenia Space.

We are looking forward to celebrating this outstanding scientist  with
all of you.

Alessandro Manara and Ginevra Trinchieri
for the Scientific advisory committees, the SOC and the LOC