Stefano Valentini, born in 1955 in Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

, Italy, is an Italian amateur astronomer

Amateur astronomy

Amateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...

 and computer programmer.

He is known for his freewares WinAstrometry (used at many Italian amateur observatories for the calculation of the astrometric

Astrometry

Astrometry is the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. The information obtained by astrometric measurements provides information on the kinematics and physical origin of our Solar System and our Galaxy, the Milky...

 positions of the asteroids from CCD

Charge-coupled device

A charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...

 images) and waEphemeris, a minor planets ephemeris

Ephemeris

An ephemeris is a table of values that gives the positions of astronomical objects in the sky at a given time or times. Different kinds of ephemerides are used for astronomy and astrology...

. Graduated in scientific disciplines, he collaborates with the astronomical observatories of Colleverde of Guidonia (MPC596), Stroncone (MPC589) and Vallemare of Borbona (MPCA55). In 1995 he has been among the founders of the "Gruppo Astrofili Nomentum", a group of amateur astronomers devoted to the search of the asteroids. He achieved the first astrometric measurement of the supernova 2004dg, discovered at Stroncone Observatory (IAU

IAU

IAU may refer to:*International Astronomical Union*International American University*International American University College of Medicine*International Association of Universities*International Association of Ultrarunners...

 Circular 8375).

Asteroid

Asteroid

Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...

9121 Stefanovalentini, discovered on 24 February, 1998, was named after him.