Angioletta Coradini
- July 1, 1946
- September 4, 2011 · Rome
- 65 years
- cancer
About Angioletta Coradini
Angioletta Coradini, 65, Italian astrophysicist, cancer.
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Full Biography
|Angioletta Coradini (1 July 1946 – 4 September 2011) was an Italian astrophysicist and planetary scientist.
Biography
In 1970 she completed a master's degree in physics at the University of Rome "La Sapienza" - the city where she would do her research over her entire career - with a thesis on the origin of the glassy particles found in the lunar soils. From 1975 she worked at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), and later at the National Astrophysics Institute of Italy (INAF). She served as Head of the Institute of Physics of Interplanetary Space (Istituto di Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario) of INAF from 2001 to 2010.
She was among the first researchers worldwide to study lunar rocks back to Earth by the Apollo missions, working on lunar samples during 1970s. She was Principal Investigator (PI) of the VIRTIS (Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer) on the Rosetta mission, and of the VIMS visible channel on the Cassini-Huygens mission (1991–2011). Between 2005 and 2011, she was PI of the JIRAM (Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper) instrument for the NASA New Frontiers Juno mission.
Participation in international scientific projects
- Co-investigator for NASA lunar and planetary research (1970–74);
- Member of the Science Team for the CIRS and VIMS instruments, and PI of the VIMS visible channel, Cassini-Huygens mission (1991–2011)
- Coordinator of the Moon Orbiting Observatory (MORO) proposal and member of the MORO science team (1993–96);
- Member of the Observing Time Allocation Committee (OTAC) for the ESA Infrared Observatory (ISO) mission (1994–96);
- Member of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) observing Program Committee, Panel F (1997–99);
- Member of the Scientific Council of the Finnish Academy of Space Studies “Antares” (1999–2004);
- Member of the Scientific Council of the International Institute of Space Studies (ISSI), headquartered in Bern (1999–2002);
- Member of the High Scientific Committee of the Paris Observatory;
- PI of the JIRAM Instrument for the NASA New Frontiers Juno mission (2005–2011);
- Member of the Space Advisory Group (SAG) of the European Community (2008–2011);
Awards and recognition
- Coradini was awarded the 2007 David Bates Medal “In recognition of her important and wide ranging work in planetary sciences and Solar System formation, and her leading role in the development of space infrared instrumentation for planetary exploration”;
- Jean Dominique Cassini Medal & Honorary Membership 2012;
- 2012 NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal;
- Asteroid 4598 Coradini was named in her honour, jointly with her brother Marcello, in recognition of their contributions to the development of planetary science.
- Angioletta crater on Vesta (name approved in 2014);
- On 28 September 2015, the European Space Agency (ESA) named a peak of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko “A. Coradini Gate” in her honour.
- Coradini crater on Pluto (name approved in 2022).
Publications
Coradini is the primary author on dozens of scientific publications and co-author on many more.
Death
Coradini died in 2011 from cancer.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angioletta_Coradini
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Angioletta Coradini's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the date of birth of the astrophysicist Angioletta Coradini?
- A.28 September 2015
- B.1 July 1946correct
- C.1 January 1948
- D.4 September 2011
Angioletta Coradini was born on 1 July 1946.
Source: biography header
2.In which city did Angioletta Coradini perform her research during her entire career?
- A.Paris
- B.Helsinki
- C.Bern
- D.Romecorrect
Angioletta Coradini completed her studies at the University of Rome and conducted research in that city for her entire career.
Source: biography section
3.What was the topic of Angioletta Coradini's 1970 master's degree thesis?
- A.The atmospheric composition of Venus
- B.The gravitational waves of Jupiter
- C.The origin of glassy particles in lunar soilscorrect
- D.The magnetic field of comet 67P
Angioletta Coradini completed her degree in 1970 with a thesis focused on the origin of glassy particles found in lunar soils.
Source: biography section
4.From 2001 to 2010, which institute did Angioletta Coradini serve as Head of?
- A.The Finnish Academy of Space Studies
- B.The Institute of Physics of Interplanetary Spacecorrect
- C.The Paris Observatory
- D.The International Institute of Space Studies
Angioletta Coradini served as the Head of the Institute of Physics of Interplanetary Space within the INAF from 2001 to 2010.
Source: biography section
5.Which instrument was Angioletta Coradini the Principal Investigator of for the Rosetta mission?
- A.JIRAM
- B.VIMS
- C.VIRTIScorrect
- D.CIRS
Angioletta Coradini served as the Principal Investigator for the VIRTIS instrument on the Rosetta mission.
Source: biography section
6.During which years did Angioletta Coradini act as a member of the Scientific Council of the International Institute of Space Studies?
- A.2005–2011
- B.1991–1996
- C.1994–1999
- D.1999–2002correct
Angioletta Coradini was a member of the Scientific Council of the International Institute of Space Studies (ISSI) from 1999 to 2002.
Source: Participation in international scientific projects
7.Which medal was Angioletta Coradini awarded in 2007?
- A.David Bates Medalcorrect
- B.Jean Dominique Cassini Medal
- C.NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal
- D.Antares Scientific Excellence Award
In 2007, Angioletta Coradini was awarded the David Bates Medal for her work in planetary sciences and instrumentation development.
Source: Awards and recognition
8.With whom was Asteroid 4598 Coradini jointly named in honour of?
- A.Her thesis advisor
- B.Her brother Marcellocorrect
- C.Her father
- D.Her colleague Jean Dominique Cassini
Asteroid 4598 Coradini was named to honor Angioletta Coradini and her brother Marcello.
Source: Awards and recognition
9.What is the name of the crater on the planet Pluto named after Angioletta Coradini?
- A.JIRAM Crater
- B.Angioletta Crater
- C.A. Coradini Gate
- D.Coradini Cratercorrect
The crater on Pluto named for Angioletta Coradini is officially known as Coradini crater, approved in 2022.
Source: Awards and recognition
10.In what year did Angioletta Coradini pass away?
- A.2007
- B.2012
- C.2011correct
- D.2010
Angioletta Coradini died on 4 September 2011.
Source: biography header
11.Which mission instrument did Angioletta Coradini serve as Principal Investigator for between 2005 and 2011?
- A.VIMS
- B.CIRS
- C.JIRAMcorrect
- D.MORO
Angioletta Coradini was the PI of the JIRAM instrument for the NASA New Frontiers Juno mission between 2005 and 2011.
Source: biography section
12.Which entity named a peak of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko as 'A. Coradini Gate' in her honour?
- A.The Finnish Academy of Space Studies
- B.The Paris Observatory
- C.ESAcorrect
- D.NASA
The European Space Agency (ESA) named a peak of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko 'A. Coradini Gate' in 2015.
Source: Awards and recognition
13.Angioletta Coradini served on the Observing Time Allocation Committee for which mission between 1994 and 1996?
- A.Juno
- B.Cassini-Huygens
- C.ESA Infrared Observatory (ISO)correct
- D.Rosetta
Angioletta Coradini was a member of the Observing Time Allocation Committee for the ESA Infrared Observatory mission from 1994 to 1996.
Source: Participation in international scientific projects
14.What was the cause of death of Angioletta Coradini?
- A.Natural causes
- B.An accident
- C.Cancercorrect
- D.A heart condition
Angioletta Coradini died in 2011 from cancer.
Source: Death section
15.Angioletta Coradini was a member of the Space Advisory Group of the European Community during which period?
- A.2008–2011correct
- B.1994–1996
- C.1997–1999
- D.1999–2004
Angioletta Coradini was a member of the Space Advisory Group (SAG) of the European Community from 2008 to 2011.
Source: Participation in international scientific projects
16.On which celestial body is the Angioletta crater located?
- A.Comet 67P
- B.Pluto
- C.The Moon
- D.Vestacorrect
The Angioletta crater, which had its name approved in 2014, is located on Vesta.
Source: Awards and recognition
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