Sky Watch 31/10/2008

The Sacra di San Michele

The Sacra di San Michele is an imposing monastery in the Val di Susa at the top of the Monte Pirchiriano (962m). Built in the late 10th century for the Benedictine monks, it has been an important study center; now it's in the hands of the Rosminian fathers. There is a steep climb to the entrance (in the photos, left side of the mountain).

Enjoy Sky Watch everybody!

Sundial 2

On this sundial at Oulx (1127m, Valle di Susa, Piedmont) there is the inscription: "Nulla fluat cuius non meminisse velis".
We can read all sorts of inscriptions on sundials. Here are some:

"Carpe diem"
"Sine sole sileo"

"Aspiciendo senescis"

"Horas non numero nisi serenas"

"Le ciel est ma règle"

"Solis et umbrae concordia"

"Vulnerant omnes, ultima necat"

Autumn in the mountains

"Nature has perfections to show that it's the image of God, and defects to show that it's only an image". Pascal

Sky Watch 17/10/2008

Waning Moon

About lunar phases, we have the proverb: "Gobba a ponente, luna crescente. Gobba a levante, luna calante", that is: "Westward hump, waxing moon. Eastward hump, waning moon".
When the moon is a "D", this means waxing moon; when the moon is a "C", this means waning moon.

Sky Watch

Sky Watch 10/10/2008

Turin, the Mole Antonelliana (1863, height=167m)

My previous post on the Mole Antonelliana here

The advance of the cement

"God made the first garden, and Cain the first city". (Abraham Cowley)

Ecological Day 2/10/2008

Like a painting

Ecological Day is hosted by Sonia at Leaves of Grass