Paolo Padovani
Encyclopedia
Paolo Padovani is an Italian astronomer
working at the European Southern Observatory
, specializing in the study of Active galactic nuclei including the study of quasar
s and blazar
s, evolution
and multifrequency studies and extragalactic backgrounds.In 2004 he and several other astronomers discovered 30 supermassive blackholes at the European Astrophysical Virtual Observatory using pioneering techniques.
s outside the Milky Way
. He was published more than 70 peer reviewed articles.
His research interests include Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) radio sources, blazars, united schemes, deep radio surveys etc.From 1997 and 2003 he worked as an archive scientist for the European Space Agency
(ESA) at the Multi-mission Archive at Space Telescope (MAST) in Baltimore
.In 2004 he became head of the VO systems department at ESO
and has since headed the data management and operations division of the ESO since June 2008.He has been a member of the International Astronomical Union
since 1994.Padovani worked with Meg Urry in the mid 1990s in the field of radio quasars and powerful radio galaxies.
In 2004, Padovani and several other astronomers at the European Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO), coordinated between the Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility
and the European Southern Observatory
in Munich
discovered 30 supermassive black hole
s which were previously obscured by dust clouds.It was the first scientific discovery to emerge from a Virtual Observatory.Padovani and the team used a pioneering technique in which they combined information from multiple wavelengths from Hubble
, ESO’s telescope and NASA
's Chandra
and used virtual observatory tools. According to Paolo Padovani, “This discovery means that surveys of powerful supermassive black holes have so far underestimated their numbers by at least a factor of two, and possibly by up to a factor of five.” According to Peter Quinn
, director of the AVO, the virtual observatory observations are the future of astronomy and will facilitate more discoveries in the future."
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
working at the European Southern Observatory
European Southern Observatory
The European Southern Observatory is an intergovernmental research organisation for astronomy, supported by fifteen countries...
, specializing in the study of Active galactic nuclei including the study of quasar
Quasar
A quasi-stellar radio source is a very energetic and distant active galactic nucleus. Quasars are extremely luminous and were first identified as being high redshift sources of electromagnetic energy, including radio waves and visible light, that were point-like, similar to stars, rather than...
s and blazar
Blazar
A blazar is a very compact quasar associated with a presumed supermassive black hole at the center of an active, giant elliptical galaxy...
s, evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
and multifrequency studies and extragalactic backgrounds.In 2004 he and several other astronomers discovered 30 supermassive blackholes at the European Astrophysical Virtual Observatory using pioneering techniques.
Biography
He received his Ph.D in Astronomy from the University of Padova in 1989. As head of the Virtual Observatory Project Office he was part of the team that discovered 30 previously hidden supermassive black holeSupermassive black hole
A supermassive black hole is the largest type of black hole in a galaxy, in the order of hundreds of thousands to billions of solar masses. Most, and possibly all galaxies, including the Milky Way, are believed to contain supermassive black holes at their centers.Supermassive black holes have...
s outside the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
. He was published more than 70 peer reviewed articles.
His research interests include Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) radio sources, blazars, united schemes, deep radio surveys etc.From 1997 and 2003 he worked as an archive scientist for the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
(ESA) at the Multi-mission Archive at Space Telescope (MAST) in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
.In 2004 he became head of the VO systems department at ESO
ESO
ESO, as a three-letter abbreviation, may stand for:* European Southern Observatory* Ensemble Studios Online* English Symphony Orchestra* Edmonton Symphony Orchestra* Executive Stock Options...
and has since headed the data management and operations division of the ESO since June 2008.He has been a member of the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
since 1994.Padovani worked with Meg Urry in the mid 1990s in the field of radio quasars and powerful radio galaxies.
In 2004, Padovani and several other astronomers at the European Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO), coordinated between the Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility
Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility
right|The Space Telescope - European Coordinating Facility is an institution which provides a number of support and service functions primarily for European observers of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope...
and the European Southern Observatory
European Southern Observatory
The European Southern Observatory is an intergovernmental research organisation for astronomy, supported by fifteen countries...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
discovered 30 supermassive black hole
Supermassive black hole
A supermassive black hole is the largest type of black hole in a galaxy, in the order of hundreds of thousands to billions of solar masses. Most, and possibly all galaxies, including the Milky Way, are believed to contain supermassive black holes at their centers.Supermassive black holes have...
s which were previously obscured by dust clouds.It was the first scientific discovery to emerge from a Virtual Observatory.Padovani and the team used a pioneering technique in which they combined information from multiple wavelengths from Hubble
Hubble
Hubble is a surname and may refer to:* Brian Hubble , American painter and illustrator* Eddie Hubble , American Jazz trombonist* Edwin Hubble , American astronomer* Jack Hubble , English cricketer...
, ESO’s telescope and NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Chandra
Chandra
In Hinduism, Chandra is a lunar deity and a Graha. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma . The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and...
and used virtual observatory tools. According to Paolo Padovani, “This discovery means that surveys of powerful supermassive black holes have so far underestimated their numbers by at least a factor of two, and possibly by up to a factor of five.” According to Peter Quinn
Peter Quinn
Peter Quinn may refer to:*Peter Quinn , head of the Data Management Division at the European Southern Observatory*Peter Quinn , served as President of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 1991 until 1994...
, director of the AVO, the virtual observatory observations are the future of astronomy and will facilitate more discoveries in the future."