Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli

Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli was an Italian astronomer in the 19th century known for his detailed observations of Mars and other planets. He was one of the first to map features on Mars, describing channels he called "canali," which sparked widespread interest and speculation about intelligent life. Schiaparelli also contributed to the study of the history of astronomy and discovered some asteroids. His work helped advance planetary science, and his maps and terminology influenced how we understand Mars today, despite some misconceptions from early interpretations of his observations.