Named in honor of Maura Tombelli (1952– ). Initially trained as an observer of variable stars, in 1994 she started a five-year survey of minor planets at Asiago {see planet  (7679)} Astrophysical Observatory with Ulisse Munari {see planet  (7599)} and Giuseppe Forti in Arcetri {see planets  (6876) and  (6645)}. She also shared a lot of observing with the discoverers, especially the follow-up of NEOs, and she contributed to the discovery of 1994 QC, the first NEA found from Italy. She is currently involved in a project to build a new observatory near the town of Montelupo, where she lives. She is still the only female astrometrist in Italy. (M 34632) _ _.