The author observing from La Silla, Chile
Thank you for visiting this page, I’m pleased to introduce myself. As a professional, I graduated with full marks in Physics (Astrophysical address) at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” and I earned a PhD in Astronomy at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. However, my interest in astronomy and the night sky started much earlier, late in the ’70s, when I was a child. I was inspired by those old science fiction series: Star Trek and Space 1999. In 1980 I read a book titled “La Conquista del Cielo” (“The Conquest of the Sky”), by Guido Ruggieri, which literally changed my life. I was definitely captured by pictures of nebulae and galaxies. In 1983, I received my first telescope from my parents, a 6-centimeter refractor: with it, I managed to observe the Moon, the Sun, a few double stars and the Great Nebula in Orion.
In 1985 I received a new telescope, still beautifully working: a Vixen 150mm-f/5 newtonian reflector with computerized, go-to equatorial mount. Thanks to it, I observed tons of deep-sky objects, especially galaxies and star clusters. Few years later, I started astrophotography and, after the first attempts, the technique was good enough to have some pictures published by national magazines and newspapers. On Aug. 4, 1989, I was the first in Italy to spot the disappearance of one of the Jupiter’s equatorial bands.
The author at the Very Large Telescope facility in Chile
As for my scientific interests, I’ve studied the cosmological distance ladder and the determination of the Hubble Constant problem, then I switched to searching strategies for the near-Earth Objects (NEOs), with special attention for those having their orbits entirely inside that of our planet (inner-Earth objects, IEOs). I was involved with the CINEOS project (at the Astronomical Observatory of Campo Imperatore). Since 1988 I’ve been a very active member of the staff of the Astronomical Observatory of Campo Catino. During my PhD, I worked for several months at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile, where I performed photometric and astrometric observations of NEOs, comets, exoplanets and GRBs from La Silla. My current scientific researches include minor bodies in our Solar System (comets and asteroids, especially NEOs), variable stars (mainly cataclysmic ones) and exoplanets.
Since 1992 I’ve been member of the Ulysses Comet Watch Network. Around the same year I started studying a new topic: the CCD (Charge Coupled Device) technology and its use in astronomy. One of the most intense periods of my astronomical life has been the passage of comet Hale-Bopp in 1997, which I followed for several months, especially when it was particularly bright. I collected more than 500 images using a SBIG ST-7 together with my old 150mm telescope. As for comets in general, I was involved in the “Small Telescope Science Program“, managed by the team of the space mission Deep Impact ( NASA, JPL, Ball Corporation).
The author at Campo Catino observatory
On 1 Aug. 1997 I discovered my first variable star, close to the famous “Dumb-bell” (M27) nebula. A few months later, I started doing astrometric observations of minor planets and comets (with data sent to the Minor Planet Center, which assigned me the MPC code “470 Ceccano”) and I discovered asteroids 1998 DA, 1998 TL7, 1999 CN10, 1999 CL12, 1999 NC1, 1999 PK, 1999QV1, 1999 RA, 1999 RN, 1999 RS2, 1999 RL35, 1999 TN4, 1999 TZ10 and 2000 YJ8; I also codiscovered asteroids 1998 SY2, 1999 RQ32, 1999 RC34, 1999 RR34, 1999 TO, 1999 TP, 1999 TQ, 1999 XS38, 1999 XT38, 1999 XE104, 1999 XF104, 2002 NJ34, 2002 OQ7, 2007 EE88 and more. On the Feb. 1998 issue of the famous “Sky & Telescope” magazine, there was a paper of mine showing how to use CCD cameras under light polluted skies. Since 1998, I study cataclysmic variable stars in cooperation with the Astronomy Department of Kyoto University and the Center for Backyard Astrophysics, hosted at Columbia University, NY. Over the years I’ve observed basically any kind of optical astronomical object, discovering many interesting ones as asteroids, exoplanets (I co-discovered exoplanets XO-2b, XO-3b and MOA-2008-BLG-310Lb), dozens of supernovae, variable stars, a nova candidate in the Andromeda galaxy and a new blazar candidate.
On June 2015 I co-discovered the historic supernova ASASSN-15lh, at that time the most luminos supernova ever recorded in human history.
The observing activities increased significantly in 1997, thanks to the availability of a Celestron C11 OTA; later, I installed a powerful Celestron C14 OTA on a Paramount ME robotic mount, remotely available via the Internet. Today, the Virtual Telescope Project includes several amazing robotic telescopes, under a dark sky, with endless observing opportunities.
The public activity has been very intensive, too. I regularly give lectures around the world on different astronomical topics, very often inspired to special events. In Sept. 2004 I started collaborating with the Planetarium of Rome and since Jan. 2006 I’m curator of the Planetarium as an astronomer of Zetema Progetto Cultura. From June 2008 to 2011 I’ve been vice-director of Coelum Astronomia magazine and Director of the Coelum Stream project.
Since 2010, I’ve been National Coordinator in Italy for Astronomers Without Borders. Since 2014, I have been for a few years the scientific director of the “Acquaviva delle Fonti” astronomical observatory. Since 2016, I’be been National Coordinator in Italy for Asteroid Day. In 2019 the International Astronomical Union (IAU) appointed me as IAU Dark Skies Ambassador, to preserve dark skies against light pollution. I serve as jury foreman of the “Federico II e i Poeti tra le Stelle” International Prize. In 2023 I’ve associated to the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF). Since 2023, I’ve been a member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a member of the European Astronomical Society (EAS) and a member of the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN).
I’m very interested in the cultural relationships among astronomy, art and the stars. I did an interesting work studing the stars in the “Starry Night over the Rhone” masterpiece of Vincent van Gogh. Over the years I had the opportunity to work with sevaral artistis like Patrizio Fariselli, Carlo Guaitoli, Leonardo Petrucci, Giovanni Renzo, Tomas Saraceno and Volker Schlöndorff.
Since 2009 I’ve collaborated with “Geo&Geo”, a well-known Italian TV show popularizing natural sciences and from 2010 for a few years I strongly collaborate as guest with “Cose dell’altro Geo”, a well-known TV show presenting many themes related to natural sciences, where I offer my skills in astronomy and science communication. Now, I regularly collaborate with “Geo”. My events and contents are featured by the most important media of the world.
Over the years, I won several international prizes, including the Ruggieri Prize by ‘Unione Astrofili Italiani (2003), the “Shoemaker NEO Grant“ by the Planetary Society (2005) and the Tacchini Prize by the “Società Astronomica Italiana” (2006), for one of the five best PhD thesis in Astronomy in 2006.
Asteroid (21795) Masi
The asteroid (21795) is named “Masi” after me, acknowledging my astronomical researches and activities.
NASA did an Internet website to introduce children to space science, considering my case as the example of a young, very active observer.
I love classical music, especially Bach, Brahms and Mahler. I find of great interest the history of these great composers and see how some of their masterpieces were inspired by the skies.
The Virtual Telescope is my last effort: its goal is to offer to everyone in the world a chance to look at the Universe, even to those without an advanced instrument or resource, both for science and fun.
Also, photography is another important area of interest for me. I’m been imaging since my teen age, also doing a lot of work in my darkroom. You can visit my portfolio here.
Publications (this link does not include publications on popular magazines/newspaper); citations on the web (Google).
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