The "Associazione Astrofili Imolesi" (AAI) is an Italian association devoted to popular Astronomy.
It was born in 1983, thanks to the efforts of a small group of passionate amateurs, who restored - with the help of local institutions and factories - an old and abandoned building above Imola (BO - northern Italy) in order to turn it into an astronomical observatory.
They also designed and produced the 41cm-wide telescope, thanks to which more than 40,000 persons have been given - since 1986 - the possibility to admire the Moon, the Sun, the planets, several comets and hundreds of deep sky objects.
There are at least 2 observing nights per month available to the general public. Schools can book further evenings, and the same applies to the association members, some of which are interested in astrophotography.
All the events taking place in this observatory, plus the ones carried out in different locations - such as conferences and public observations by means of transportable telescopes - can be attended free of any charge.
A peculiar characteristic of AAI is the presence, within its members, of a very prolific gnomonist. Adelmo Eliogabili is one of the founders of the association and has realised, starting from
the 1980s, almost 200 sundials and solar clocks, many of which are exposed inside the observatory.
AAI lists about 80 members, including some professional astronomers.
If you are interested in further details, please don't hesitate to ask.
Write an e-mail to info @ astrofiliimolesi.it and we will be happy to answer to your questions.
www.astrofiliimolesi.it
