Cerulli compiled a star catalog with Elia Millosevich. He also observed Mars and developed the theory that the Martian canals were not real but an optical illusion, a theory that was later confirmed.

He discovered one asteroid, 704 Interamnia, which is named after the Latin name for Teramo, and is notable for its relatively large diameter of approximately 350 km, which makes it one of the largest bodies in the traditional asteroid belt.

A crater on Mars is named after Cerulli, as is the asteroid 366 Vincentina.

Cerulli died at Merate, province of Como, in 1927.