Sonia Zorba

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About

Dr. Sonia Zorba is an astrophysicist and instrumentation specialist at the INAF Astronomical Observatory of Trieste (OATs), where her work bridges cutting-edge automation and public engagement in astronomy. Her primary research focuses on the complete roboticization of educational observatories, developing integrated control systems that make professional-grade telescopes accessible for outreach and teaching. Her most cited work details the full automation of the OATs Celestron C14 telescope, where she engineered a sophisticated system combining a Paramount ME robotic mount with a Beckhoff PLC controller to enable fully remote, unattended operation. This project demonstrates her expertise in mechatronics, control systems, and observatory software integration, achieving a seamless interface between dome automation, telescope pointing, and data acquisition. While her citation count remains modest—reflecting the applied, local nature of her work—her contributions have a tangible impact on science education, allowing hundreds of students and visitors to conduct real astronomical observations without on-site technical support. Dr. Zorba’s achievement represents a model for modernizing small observatories worldwide, proving that advanced automation can democratize access to the night sky.