About me
Cristian Fattinnanzi
Astrophotographer, designer, science communicator.
I was born in Forlì in 1972 and grew up in Macerata, where I trained as a surveyor. My passion for astronomy began in middle school and has been with me ever since.
A designer and photographer by profession, since 1994 I have been a member of the "Crab Nebula" amateur astronomy association in Tolentino, where I help with outreach activities.
My images have often been published by the main Italian astronomy magazines (Coelum, l'Astronomia, Nuovo Orione, Le Stelle), for which I have also written articles on astrophotography techniques, and by international ones (Sky & Telescope). I have been invited to image the planets at the Loiano (BO) and Collurania (TE) observatories, and some of my images have been published on "APOD", NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day.
In 2016 I held my first astrophotography exhibition in Macerata, "Ritratti Celesti" (Celestial Portraits): 52 large-format images, a journey from the Sun to the edge of the Universe. In 2018 I was a guest on the TV programme "Destinazione Spazio".
I photograph from the Sibillini mountains and from every place I can reach with my equipment, under skies little polluted by artificial light.
NASA
Astronomy Picture of the Day
"APOD" is NASA's astronomy picture of the day: these images of mine have been published, two of them twice.
Moon Meets Jupiter
Andromeda on the Rocks
HDR: Earth's Circular Shadow on the Moon
2006
The Marco Falorni award
On 9 September 2006, at the congress in Catania, the Italian Amateur Astronomers Union (UAI) gave me the "Marco Falorni" award, which recognises constant activity and commitment to obtaining results of scientific value in planetary astronomy with equipment within everyone's reach.
In short, the perfect description of how I understand and live my passion for astronomy!
2013
The Minitrack
I have always built my own instruments. In 2013 the Minitrack was born: a small, inexpensive mechanical star tracker that lets you photograph the sky with an ordinary camera without the stars turning into streaks. Since 2018 it has been made by Omegon as the "Minitrack LX2", and in 2019 Sky & Telescope magazine named it a "Hot Product" in its category.
The Minitrack over the years
Early 2013 One of the first prototypes, machined from a solid block of aluminium.
2013 Here I am with one of the first Minitracks I made, at the first astrophotography meeting organised to let people try my invention. Monte Fiegni (MC).
2013-2014 One of the models built by hand in the first two years, with the mechanism of an IKEA kitchen timer, whose winding knob I also reused.
2015 Over the years I tried several colours, including a very rare red one.
2018 The Minitrack LX2, the first model industrialised by Omegon and sold by Astroshop: large-scale production begins.
2019 Sky & Telescope, the world's leading astronomy magazine, names it a "Hot Product" of the year.
2019-2020 The Minitrack LX3, with major improvements: a Teflon bearing, a newly designed spring, optimised mechanics and a payload of up to 3 kg.
2022 The Minitrack LX4, the state of the art of the project: roller bearings, reinforced mechanics, also configurable for the southern hemisphere, Vixen mount.
The Minitracks on Astroshop The Minitrack LX group on Facebook
Since 2021
Full-time science communicator
In 2021, after almost thirty years at the same company, I decided to devote myself entirely to my passion. I always joke that an astronomy enthusiast could not last long at a company making lighting fixtures, the enemies of the starry sky!
