Maura Tombelli
Maura Tombelli is an Italian amateur astronomer who began her training in astronomy as an observer of variable stars. She is a prolific discoverer of almost 200 minor planets, including the main-belt asteroid 7794 Sanvito, and a member of the American Association of Variable Star Observers.
Career
She is known as the only Italian female astrometrist. Together with Italian astronomers Ulisse Munari and Giuseppe Forti, she initiated a five-year survey of minor planets at Asiago Astrophysical Observatory in 1994. She also shared a lot of observing with the discoverers, especially the follow-up of near-Earth objects, and she contributed to the discovery of 15817 Lucianotesi, the first NEO found from Italy. She is currently involved in a project to build a new observatory near the town of Montelupo, where she lives.
Awards and honors
The main-belt asteroid 9904 Mauratombelli, discovered by Italian astronomers Andrea Boattini and Luciano Tesi in 1997, is named in her honour.
List of discovered minor planets
| 6876 Beppeforti | 5 September 1994 | |
| 7141 Bettarini | 12 March 1994 | |
| 7196 Baroni | 16 January 1994 | |
| 7197 Pieroangela | 16 January 1994 | |
| 7198 Montelupo | 16 January 1994 | |
| 7481 San Marcello | 11 August 1994 | |
| 7599 Munari | 3 August 1994 | |
| 7679 Asiago | 15 February 1996 | |
| 7715 Leonidarosino | 14 February 1996 | |
| 7794 Sanvito | 15 January 1996 | |
| 7847 Mattiaorsi | 14 February 1996 | |
| 7900 Portule | 14 February 1996 | |
| 7957 Antonella | 17 January 1994 | |
| 8885 Sette | 13 March 1994 | |
| 8925 Boattini | 4 December 1996 | |
| 8944 Ortigara | 30 January 1997 | |
| 9425 Marconcini | 14 February 1996 | |
| 9426 Aliante | 14 February 1996 | |
| 9427 Righini | 14 February 1996 | |
| 9897 Malerba | 14 February 1996 | |
| 10149 Cavagna | 3 August 1994 | |
| 10176 Gaiavettori | 14 February 1996 | |
| 10198 Pinelli | 6 December 1996 | |
| 10591 Caverni | 13 August 1996 | |
| 10928 Caprara | 25 January 1998 | |
| 15006 Samcristoforetti | 27 February 1998 | |
| 15034 Décines | 16 November 1998 | |
| 15360 Moncalvo | 14 February 1996 | |
| 15375 Laetitiafoglia | 30 January 1997 | |
| 15418 Sergiospinelli | 27 February 1998 | |
| 15817 Lucianotesi | 28 August 1994 | |
| 15837 Mariovalori | 25 February 1995 | |
| 15853 Benedettafoglia | 16 January 1996 | |
| 15855 Mariasalvatore | 14 February 1996 | |
| 15968 Waltercugno | 27 February 1998 | |
| 30 December 1999 | |
| 16154 Dabramo | 1 January 2000 | |
| 16672 Bedini | 17 January 1994 | |
| 16879 Campai | 24 January 1998 | |
| 17019 Aldo | 23 February 1999 | |
| 17077 Pampaloni | 25 April 1999 | |
| 17720 Manuboccuni | 7 December 1997 | |
| 18431 Stazzema | 16 January 1994 | |
| 18441 Cittadivinci | 5 August 1994 | |
| 18583 Francescopedani | 7 December 1997 | |
| 18627 Rogerbonnet | 27 February 1998 | |
| 18628 Taniasagrati | 27 February 1998 | |
| 18631 Maurogherardini | 27 February 1998 | |
| 19331 Stefanovitale | 4 December 1996 | |
| 20081 Occhialini | 12 March 1994 | |
| 29761 Lorenzo | 13 February 1999 | |
| 30585 Firenze | 14 August 2001 | |
| 31091 Bettiventicinque | 30 January 1997 | |
| 31153 Enricaparri | 26 October 1997 | |
| 31605 Braschi | 10 April 1999 | |
| 33031 Paolofini | 1 September 1997 | |
| 33054 Eduardorossi | 26 October 1997 | |
| 33162 Sofiarandich | 27 February 1998 | |
| 33480 Bartolucci | 4 April 1999 | |
| 33823 Mariorigutti | 3 February 2000 | |
| 34004 Gregorini | 30 July 2000 | |
| 34696 Risoldi | 21 July 2001 | |
| 35222 Delbarrio | 4 December 1994 | |
| 35358 Lorifini | 27 September 1997 | |
| 35444 Giuliamarconcini | 25 January 1998 | |
| 35464 Elisaconsigli | 27 February 1998 | |
| 35465 Emilianoricci | 27 February 1998 | |
| 35703 Lafiascaia | 20 March 1999 | |
| 37313 Paolocampaner | 16 August 2001 | |
| 37835 Darioconsigli | 25 January 1998 | |
| 37836 Simoneterreni | 25 January 1998 | |
| 39871 Lucagrazzini | 27 February 1998 | |
| 39875 Matteolombardo | 27 February 1998 | |
| 43881 Cerreto | 25 February 1995 | |
| 43923 Cosimonoccioli | 14 February 1996 | |
| 31 December 1999 | |
| 71489 Dynamocamp | 4 February 2000 | |
| 27 April 2001 | |
| 4 February 2000 | |
| 15 November 1998 | |
| 82638 Bottariclaudio | 7 August 2001 | |
| 84120 Antonacci | 4 September 2002 | |
| 85368 Elisabettacioni | 14 February 1996 | |
| 85515 Annakukharskaya | 26 October 1997 | |
| 12 December 1998 | |
| 1 January 2000 | |
| 14 August 2001 | |
| 4 January 2002 | |
| 20 July 1998 | |
| 5 November 1999 | |
| 21 November 2001 | |
| 4 January 2002 | |
| 99389 Marconovi | 5 January 2002 | |
| 100726 Marcoiozzi | 25 January 1998 | |
| 7 December 1998 | |
| 2 January 2000 | |
| 21 July 2001 | |
| 15 August 2001 | |
| 15 August 2001 | |
| 111571 Bebevio | 11 January 2002 | |