giovanni de sanctis (born 1949) is an italian astronomer and discoverer of minor planets at the osservatorio astronomico di torino (astronomical observatory of turin) in turin, italy. his name is sometimes spelt desanctis, particularly in the minor planet circulars. the minor planet center credits him with the discovery of 42 numbered minor planets, most of which he discovered at eso's la silla site in northern chile in the early 1980s.