P. Di Marcantonio

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

P. Di Marcantonio is an astronomer and instrumentation specialist at the INAF–Astronomical Observatory of Trieste (OATs), whose work centers on the automation and control of astronomical observatories, with a strong emphasis on educational outreach and public engagement. His major contributions lie in the development of complete, PLC-based automation systems for small telescopes, transforming the educational observatory at Basovizza into a fully robotic facility. By integrating a Beckhoff PLC controller with a Celestron C14 reflector and a Paramount ME mount, Di Marcantonio created a system that allows for remote, hands-free operation, making professional-grade observations accessible to students and the public. This work, detailed in his most-cited papers (each with 2 citations), demonstrates a practical, high-impact approach to democratizing astronomy. His achievements include the successful deployment of a fully automated dome and telescope control system, enabling reliable, scheduled observations for educational programs. Di Marcantonio’s research is a model for how advanced control engineering can bridge the gap between professional astronomy and public science education, inspiring the next generation of astronomers.