Eyes on the sky with Giuseppe Ruggiero and Simeone Pendolo of AstroCampania

by Emilia Filocamo

The direction is the sky. Perennial, preferred, chosen with conviction. Young, enthusiastic, with a light in their eyes that is not hard to notice, the fruit of an authentic, generous desire to spread the wonder that is above our heads, the secrets of the Universe and to take us all for a walk among the stars. Popularizers, this is the title they choose for themselves, no other high-sounding specification, the bulleted nomenclatures must absolutely be eliminated. Giuseppe Ruggiero and Simeone Pendolo, respectively a popularizing amateur astronomer the first, a popularizing astrophotographer the second, of the Neapolitan Association AstroCampania, chaired by Massimo Corbisiero, are precisely this: passion. When I decide to talk about their activity, I absolutely cannot speak of a hobby, impossible. There is such competence in their words, a spontaneity that does not care about tiredness, sacrifices, travel, that the word hobby is truly reductive. Our meeting took place during the organization of an event at the Caruso, the Ditirambo Night Stardust which, in addition to providing a tasting of Cilento dishes prepared by the Executive Chef of the facility Armando Aristarco, allowed us to live a unique experience by the pool with the sighting of the moon and the constellations. Our chat, however, came a few days later when the wonder of the evening had already turned into a memory.

Giuseppe, can you tell us how your passion for the stars was born? Thanks to a book. It was an old school textbook from the 60s. It was given to me when I didn't know how to read yet, maybe I hadn't turned 6. But the illustrations were magnificent, clearly hand-made and printed. Those drawings already spoke to me and told me about distant islands in the middle of endless oceans, sharp mountains and impenetrable forests. And of stars and planets of course. There was a celestial map showing the constellations. That evening it was natural for me to go out into the courtyard with the book in my hand and look up. When I realized that I could know so much about phenomena and objects so far away, a fire flared up that still burns.

I still have that book among all the others I started buying as soon as I learned to read. That's how I spent the money my grandparents gave me.

At Caruso, on July 2nd, something extraordinary happened: guests were able to appreciate the details of the moon and stars aboard the famous Pool, almost a stage pointed towards the sky. What usually amazes and excites you the most when you drive in observation? What I learn from others! Everyone approaches the telescope with their own baggage of knowledge, their own sensitivity. Everyone reacts differently. Amazement and wonder are the feelings I encounter most often but there is always a different note, a question that no one had asked me in that way. Trying to guess the best way to get to make myself understood by the other, I learn myself. A human and profound experience, every time. When you see curiosity light up in people's eyes, what a beautiful feeling! By the way, thanks for the invitation. It was a fantastic evening. The moon was reflected in the pool and I almost couldn't distinguish where it ended and where the sea in the distance began.

I know that it is possible to give stars, constellations, I remember that it was a very popular thing until some time ago. If you could and should give a constellation, which one would it be and why? Let me think for a moment… there are 88 of them, at least the official ones. This gives me the opportunity to give the right gift to each one. If you allow me, I want to do it like this.

I would give the thirteenth zodiac constellation, Ophiuchus, to those who take horoscopes too seriously (you've never heard of it, right?); Virgo to cosmologists because it hosts a super cluster of galaxies that can still tell us a lot about the origins of the universe; the Pole Star and Ursa Minor that hosts it to those who feel the need for a point of reference. I'll give myself the Southern Cross, because it's only visible from latitudes below the equator and I can't wait for a next trip to take me there.

The time you almost cried looking at the telescope? Just the other evening, a kind lady, your guest, confessed to me that she was almost moved to tears at the sight of the moon through a telescope. I have no difficulty understanding her. But let me be a little sarcastic: the time I almost cried? Every evening when I see the artificial lights uselessly shot upwards or the myriad of artificial satellites appearing in the eyepiece or in photos. We are filling the low orbit around the earth with garbage. To watch a football match in 4k we are making it increasingly difficult to do research. Satellites are very useful; it is their number that is a problem. Many are no longer functioning and constitute a danger to the safety of astronauts aboard the Space Station and future human missions. We need international regulation that is binding for everyone.

Simeone, your best photo? Well, finding just one “most beautiful” photo among the hundreds I have taken is really difficult. In astrophotography there are no beautiful or less beautiful photos: each shot tells a moment, an emotion, a challenge. Behind each image there are obstacles such as weather conditions or light pollution, but also a lot of passion and dedication.

However, one of the strongest emotions I felt was on August 12, 2024, when for the first time I photographed the Milky Way from the Fiordo di Furore, immortalizing a shooting star right inside the arch. Luck? Definitely yes.

I would like to point out that astrophotography is not just landscapes and the Milky Way: there is also the work of dedication and patience needed to capture deep-sky objects. An example is my 23-hour exposure project on the Lagoon Nebula (M8), realized with advanced acquisition and post-production techniques. A long job, but one that gives enormous satisfaction.

As a child, were you already attracted by the Universe? Were you also one of those children who dreamed of becoming an astronaut? As a child I had trouble eating, and I remember my father taking me up on the roof to look at the stars while he tried to get me to finish my food. Maybe that's where my love for those shiny spheres in the sky began.

Going into space? I think it's a dream common to many: the absence of gravity, the view of the Earth from above, the idea of ​​walking on the Moon... and why not, maybe even on Mars. It's a dream that fascinates not only the little ones, but also many adults.

During the sighting at Caruso, was there anyone among the guests who struck you for the depth of their questions or for their curiosity? In short, something that has remained in your memory? During the sighting at Caruso, there were so many questions and curiosities that it is almost impossible to remember them all. However, one in particular remained in my memory: while we were observing the Lagoon Nebula (M8) at the telescope, a guest noticed the presence of dark filaments inside the nebula and asked me what they were, even if they were black holes.

This question struck me for the depth of observation and the ability to capture such a significant detail. It was a great starting point to explain the difference between a dark nebula - clouds of gas and dust so dense that they obscure the light of the stars behind them - and black holes, completely different objects, but often confused in common language because of their direct invisibility. A truly inspiring and significant moment of the evening.

Upcoming projects related to AstroCampania? AstroCampania never stops and during the summer we are more active than ever. We are organizing the autumn star party for the benefit of our members: we meet at a hotel far enough away from artificial lights to dedicate ourselves to our passion. A couple of nights under the stars to photograph and observe nebulae and galaxies or simply enjoy the firmament, lying on a lawn. We have planned the “Star day for teachers” training courses for the benefit of teachers of schools in Campania. Our commitment to the search for asteroids continues with a dedicated team, the study of variable stars, asteroid occultations... In short, we never stop!

But does Simeone Pendolo wait for shooting stars in August to make a wish? Absolutely yes. Even though today I observe them with technical instruments and a more conscious gaze, when I see a shooting star I become a child again. In that moment, between the silence and the wonder of the sky that opens, a desire is always born.

And if I had to say one out loud, it would be this: I would like that, at least once a month, the municipalities of Italy would turn off all the lights to allow everyone to contemplate the starry sky, which unfortunately is disappearing due to light pollution.

A collective moment of silence, beauty and awareness.

And why not, take the opportunity to also review the orientation of public lights, eliminating those that project upwards and returning the sky to its natural darkness. It would be a simple but powerful gesture.

We will meet again. I am sure of it. To once again point our eyes to the sky, to let ourselves be involved by their enchantment and because of stars, as of dreams, we can never be tired.