Gianluca Masi Explained

Minor planets discovered: 26 
see

Gianluca Masi (born 22 January 1972) is an Italian astrophysicist and astronomer, as well as a discoverer of minor planets and variable stars.

Scientific career

He started his interest in astronomy in childhood, later becoming a professional astronomer, earning a PhD in astronomy at the Sapienza University of Rome in 2006. At the same time, he devoted a lot of effort to science communication, on the international stage.

Vincent van Gogh painting

His professional interests include asteroids and comets, variable stars and extrasolar planets, with many contributions in all those fields. He was able to determine the date that Vincent van Gogh painted Starry Night Over the Rhone by studying the star placement.

Virtual Telescope project

In 2006 he started the Virtual Telescope project (part of Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory), consisting of several robotic telescopes, remotely available in real-time over the Internet. Through this system, real-time online observations are performed; sharing the universe with the world. More than 1,000,000 individuals each year observe the sky through the Virtual Telescope.

Awards and honors

He received a number of prizes, including the Ruggieri Prize (2003), the Gene Shoemaker NEO Grant (2005) and the Tacchini Prize (2006) as well as other acknowledgements for his scientific activities. The Nysian asteroid 21795 Masi, discovered by his college Franco Mallia in 1999, was named in his honor.

List of discovered minor planets

10931 Ceccano 16 February 1998
20433 Prestinenza 14 February 1999
20513 Lazio 10 September 1999  
21661 Olgagermani 1 September 1999
21685 Francomallia 11 September 1999
21799 Ciociaria 1 October 1999  
6 August 1999
40409 Taichikato 6 September 1999
49501 Basso 13 February 1999
65487 Divinacommedia 9 February 2003  
66458 Romaplanetario 22 August 1999
73453 Ninomanfredi 13 July 2002  
74625 Tieproject 10 September 1999  
79641 Daniloceirani 19 September 1998  
28 March 2003
98722 Elenaumberto 22 December 2000
101902 Gisellaluccone 3 September 1999
145820 Valeromeo 15 October 1998
216591 Coetzee 21 July 2002
13 February 2003  
243637 Frosinone 8 October 1999
11 February 2003  
269762 Nocentini 4 October 1999
11 February 2003  
13 February 2003  
14 March 2007
Co-discovery made with:
F. Mallia
R. Michelsen

See also

External links