My Story
My name is Niki Giannandrea, known in the world of astrophotography as "The Astrodoc". My passion for astronomy was born when I was just 5 or 6 years old, thanks to a small Konus telescope I was given as a child. I still remember that orange refractor and its fragile plastic eyepiece holder that constantly broke, but which for me represented a true window onto the Universe. Through that instrument, I observed the Moon for the first time: blurred, unstable images, difficult to focus, but capable of igniting something that would never be extinguished.
In the following years, astronomy always remained part of my life. I never missed a program dedicated to space and the Universe, from the great documentary series dedicated to the cosmos and space exploration. I still remember waiting for those evenings for the astronomy segment of SuperQuark, to be fascinated by the stories of the Universe and the images coming from deep space.
In 2012, I began to dedicate myself seriously to astrophotography. At my parents' house, I built a small homemade observatory, literally under a streetlamp. The difficulties were enormous: light pollution, financial constraints, limited equipment, and still-developing knowledge made every image a challenge. Despite everything, I spent entire nights trying to capture the faint lights of the deep sky. During that period, the friends from my city's amateur astronomers association were also fundamental, with whom I shared experiences, advice, and the first real astronomical observations.
Shortly after, however, I had to temporarily set aside this project to dedicate myself completely to my medical studies. If I had had greater mathematical skills, I probably would have chosen the path of astrophysics or professional astronomy, nurturing the dream shared by many children passionate about space: becoming an astronaut. Life took me elsewhere, but without ever truly distancing me from the sky.
Today I am a doctor with a degree in Medicine and Surgery, specialized in Physiatry and an expert in ultrasound. At the same time, I continue to cultivate my great passion for astrophotography with the same emotion as back then. The name "The Astrodoc" was born precisely from the union of these two worlds: medicine and the cosmos.
Through my images, I seek to capture the wonders of the deep sky and to contribute, in my small way, to sharing the extraordinary beauty that exists beyond our atmosphere.