The "Second Star to the Right" collection of astronomical guides to discovering the sky in the city is enriched with a new edition: Rome.
"Second Star to the Right" is an innovative project, based on a long research in cultural astronomy, which aims to involve a diverse public, inviting them to stroll through the historic centre and surroundings of cities to discover the various ways in which astronomy is present in the art and culture of every era.
To date, astronomy guides have been produced for Padua, Florence, Palermo and now Rome; one dedicated to the city of Catania will soon be published.

The sun, moon, planets, constellations and smaller bodies are often hidden inside churches and palaces, depicted in marble inlays or mosaics, or painted on ceilings.
Clocks, sundials, signs of the zodiac, painted skies and constellations, ancient maps, places linked to scientists, telescopes, scientific instruments and other "astronomical secrets" that Italy's cultural heritage holds, testify to how astronomy has not only inspired art with its beauty, but is also deeply linked to art, history and society.
From Giotto's comet in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, to Galileo's places in Florence, to the noble architecture of Palermo, such as the Quattro Canti, oriented according to the rhythms of the heavens and the seasons, the guides lead us to discover these places with curiosity and amazement.
In Rome, the sky is represented in works of art from every era, and it is here that we discover Augustus' 'solar policy' or that the Pantheon functions as a giant hemispherical sundial. It was here that Galileo made the triumphant presentation of his most famous invention, the telescope, celebrated in the Collegio Romano, only to be condemned a few years later in the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.

In short, based on astronomical, historical and artistic knowledge, the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics and Studio Bleu have created an innovative format for the communication and dissemination of science, with a project linked to astro-tourism, which is suitable for reaching and involving different and not necessarily expert audiences, with particular attention to graphics.
In addition to the tourist guides, the project includes city maps showing the astronomical routes identified and highlighting the places of greatest scientific, cultural, historical and artistic interest, and has been enriched and brought to life by events that make it possible to enjoy these routes through real "walks with the astronomer", family activities, student visits and hands-on workshops.

Alongside the 'Second Star to the Right' guides, versions dedicated to children, for the 8-11 age group, are also being produced. In particular, a children's version of the Padua guide, 'Padua upside down', has already been produced, in which thanks to the presence of captivating illustrations and graphics, the aim is to stimulate curiosity for the sky as in a great treasure hunt: boys and girls are accompanied in the discovery of the astronomical evidence preserved in the monuments and buildings of the historic city centre, using gadgets such as the moon observation notebook, instructions for building a telescope and a small cardboard sundial, and spaces for notes and observation notes that can be filled in during the city tour 'head up' or independently at home.

The 'Second Star to the Right' guides have nationwide distribution in more than 30 bookshops, cultural and museum spaces and during events, conferences and activities for the public. So far 4200 copies have been printed for the city of Padua and 2000 copies of 'Padua upside down', 1000 for both Florence and Palermo, for Rome 2400 in italian and 3800 in english.
With its secular role in the history of western culture, the astronomical guide to Rome represented a great challenge: that of constructing itineraries that were effectively passable without being too dispersive, alternating the testimonies of ancient and imperial Rome with those of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Baroque and the contemporary, and offering previously unseen jewels hidden inside and outside the historic centre.