He is an active observer at the Sormano Astronomical Observatory in the north Italian province of Como. The observatory was founded in 1987 and is a member of the GIA (Gruppo Italiano Astrometristi), an Italian association of amateur astronomers who specialize in the observation of minor bodies. Chiavenna's activities there include astrophotography, software development and observation, during the course of which he has made his discoveries, all in collaboration with Francesco Manca, Piero Sicoli, Valter Giuliani, Augusto Testa and Marco Cavagna.[1]