Vincenzo Zappalà (born 1945) is an Italian

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. Astronomers observe astronomical objects, such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, galax ...

and discoverer of several

main-belt asteroids The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, centered on the Sun and roughly spanning the space between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies called asteroi ...

. He is credited by the

Minor Planet Center The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Funct ...

with the discovered of 9

minor planet According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a minor planet is an astronomical object in direct orbit around the Sun that is exclusively classified as neither a planet nor a comet. Before 2006, the IAU officially used the term ''minor ...

s. All of his discoveries he made at

ESO The European Southern Observatory is an astronomical research organisation. ESO may also refer to: *Employee stock option (also: executive stock option) *'' Ether Saga Odyssey'', a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game *''The Elde ...

's Chilean

La Silla Observatory La Silla Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Chile with three telescopes built and operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Several other telescopes are also located at the site and are partly maintained by ESO. The observato ...

in 1984, with the exception of 17357 Lucataliano, which he discovered at Mount Stromlo Observatory in 1978. He has also been a long-term astronomer at the Observatory of Turin in

Pino Torinese Pino Torinese is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Italy, Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin. Pino Torinese borders the following municipalities: Turin, Baldissero Torinese, Chieri, Pecett ...

Awards and honors

The main-belt asteroid

2813 Zappalà Events By place Byzantine Empire * June 22 – Battle of Versinikia: The Bulgars, led by Krum, ruler (''Khan (title), khan'') of the First Bulgarian Empire, Bulgarian Empire, defeat Emperor Michael I Rangabe, Michael I near Edir ...

, discovered by American astronomer

Edward Bowell Edward L. G. "Ted" Bowell (born 1943 in London, died August 21 2023 in Flagstaff, Arizona), was an American astronomer. Bowell was educated at Emanuel School London, University College, London, and the University of Paris. He was principal invest ...

at the U.S.

Anderson Mesa Station Anderson Mesa Station is an astronomical observatory established in 1959 as a dark-sky observing site for Lowell Observatory. It is located at Anderson Mesa in Coconino County, Arizona, about southeast of Lowell's main campus on Mars Hill in F ...

in 1981, is named in his honour.

List of discovered minor planets

References

External links

Interview with Vincenzo Zappalà Part 1

Interview with Vincenzo Zappalà Part 2
1945 births Discoverers of asteroids * 20th-century Italian astronomers Living people {{Italy-astronomer-stub

Awards and honors

List of discovered minor planets

See also

References

External links