Gianluca Masi

Gianluca Masi (born 22 January 1972) is an Italian astrophysicist and astronomer, as well as a discoverer of minor planets and variable stars.^[2][3]

Minor planets discovered: 26 ^[1]

see § List of discovered minor planets

Career

He started his interest in astronomy in childhood,^[2] later becoming a professional astronomer, earning a PhD in astronomy at the Sapienza University of Rome in 2006.^[3] At the same time, he devoted a lot of effort to science communication, on the international stage.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[3]

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.^[3] The Nysian asteroid 21795 Masi, discovered by his college Franco Mallia in 1999, was named in his honor.^[2]

List of discovered minor planets

See also: Category:Discoveries by Gianluca Masi

10931 Ceccano	16 February 1998	list
20433 Prestinenza	14 February 1999	list
20513 Lazio	10 September 1999	list [A]
21661 Olgagermani	1 September 1999	list
21685 Francomallia	11 September 1999	list
21799 Ciociaria	1 October 1999	list [A]
25337 Elisabetta	6 August 1999	list
40409 Taichikato	6 September 1999	list
49501 Basso	13 February 1999	list
65487 Divinacommedia	9 February 2003	list [B]
66458 Romaplanetario	22 August 1999	list
73453 Ninomanfredi	13 July 2002	list [A]
74625 Tieproject	10 September 1999	list [A]
79641 Daniloceirani	19 September 1998	list [A]
(95784) 2003 FS6	28 March 2003	list

98722 Elenaumberto	22 December 2000	list
101902 Gisellaluccone	3 September 1999	list
145820 Valeromeo	15 October 1998	list
216591 Coetzee	21 July 2002	list
(220296) 2003 CX20	13 February 2003	list [B]
243637 Frosinone	8 October 1999	list
(253311) 2003 CC20	11 February 2003	list [B]
269762 Nocentini	4 October 1999	list
(317631) 2003 CB20	11 February 2003	list [B]
(317633) 2003 CY20	13 February 2003	list [B]
(435127) 2007 EE88	14 March 2007	list
Co-discovery made with: A F. Mallia B R. Michelsen

See also

• Supernova ASASSN-15lh
• List of minor planet discoverers § G. Masi