Named in honor of Italian physicist Umberto Penco. After teaching high school for several years, he became a researcher in the department of physics at the University of Pisa. He has worked in astrophysics, most recently on mathematical models of chemical evolution of galaxies, and he maintains an interest in science education at secondary-school level, training teachers in astronomy and physics. Penco has assisted the San Marcello {see planet  (7481)} Observatory as a scientific consultant since it was first established, and he has given advice especially on the selection and improvement of the optical instrumentation. (M 35494) _ _.