VATICAN CITY, 1979, the centenary of Secchi's death, Scott 654-656
featuring a spectrum, solar flares, and (180 lire) his meteorograph, (220 lire) a spectroscope, (300 lire) a telescope

Born on June 18, 1818 at Reggio in Emilia, Italy, Angelo Secchi entered the Jesuits at Rome. After finishing his studies, he taught mathematics and physics at various places including Georgetown University, DC. He was appointed director of the Vatican Observatory in Rome in 1849. He was interested in, researched and published about the new field of astrophysics, double stars, moon craters, spectrum analysis, classifying stars by spectral type, solar prominences and coronas, and much else. Among his inventions: the heliospectroscope, star spectroscope, telespectroscope and meteorograph. On February 23, 2007 a ceremony was held in the Vatican gardens to bless a monument to Fr. Secchi. More

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