Faith and Science in the search for Truth

Trying to “show to the world” that science and faith are mutually supportive is one of the goals of the Specola Vaticana, which throughout the centuries has brought together the most prestigious scientists from various nations, becoming a point of reference, especially for research in the astronomical field. Jesuit Brother Guy J. Consolmagno, Director of the Specola, shares his thoughts.

The Astronomical Observatory, or Specola Vaticana, is a scientific research institute, directly subject to the Holy See. It is under the Governorate of Vatican City State.

The Specola Vaticana can be considered one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the world. Its origins date back to the second half of the 16th century, when Pope Gregory XIII had the Tower of Winds built in the Vatican in 1578, and invited Jesuit astronomers and mathematicians of the Roman College to prepare a reform of the calendar, which had been promulgated in 1582. Since then, with significant continuity, the Holy See has never stopped showing an interest in and supporting astronomical research. This ancient tradition reached its peak in the 20th century with research conducted at the Roman College by renowned Jesuit astronomer Fr. Angelo Secchi, who was the first to classify stars according to their spectra. It was the basis of a long and rich tradition. In order to address the persistent accusations that the Church was against scientific progress, on 14 March 1891, Leo XIII issued a Motu Proprio titled, Ut mysticam, founding the Observatory on the Vatican Hill behind the Basilica.

With a director and staff from various religious orders, among them the Barnabites, the Oratorians, the Augustinians and the Jesuits, the Specola operated inside the Vatican for a little more than 40 years. Its main activity was the implementation of the great international project, “Carte du Ciel” (Map of the Sky), along with other observers. In 1910, Saint Pius X gave the specola more room, bestowing to them the small house that Leo XIII had built in the Vatican Gardens and appointing Jesuit Father G. Hagen as its Director. However, at the beginning of the 1930’s, the increase in electric light that had accompanied the urban growth of the Eternal City had made Rome’s sky so bright that astronomers became unable to study the smallest and weakest stars. Pius XI thus ordered that the Specola be transferred to his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo on the Alban Hills, some 35 kilometres south of Rome.

In that environment so rich in history, a modern Observatory was re-founded and entrusted to Jesuits in 1935. It was equipped with three new telescopes and a laboratory for astrophysics, capable of  spectrochemical analysis. Among the various research projects of the new Observatory, one deserves particular mention. It was important research on variable stars. In 1957, the installation of a Schmidt wide field telescope and a modern computing centre, permitted expansion into new research areas, such as the development of new techniques for the classification of stars according to their spectra: research that is still ongoing at the Specola.

As Rome and its outskirts continued to expand, the sky over Castel Gandolfo became so bright as to force the astronomers once again to go elsewhere for their observations. In 1981, for the first time in its history, the Specola founded a second research centre, the Vatican Observatory Research Group (VORG) in Tucson, Arizona. Vatican astronomers have offices at the Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona, where they can access all the modern telescopes in the area. In 1993, the Specola in cooperation with the Steward Observatory, concluded the construction of the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT) and placed it on Mount Graham, Arizona, making it the best astronomical site on the North American continent.

VATT is the first optical-infrared telescope of the International Observatory of Mount Graham, a project that will be completed in a few years with the construction of some of the largest and most sophisticated telescopes in the world. Vatt’s almost two-meter primary mirror was the first to be built with the new technique called spin casting. Having their own telescope, the astronomers of the Specola will finally be able to develop continuous long-range research projects in Tucson, as they did at Castel Gandolfo. The Vatican Observatory will continue to carrry out its research from the two sites of Castel Gandolfo and Tucson, studying among other things, cosmological models, spectral classification of peculiar stars, the distribution of stars rich and poor in metals, binary stars with material exchange, materials in dark matter in which new stars are born, star dust in young stars and the history of science.

The Specola carries out these programs in cooperation with many astronomical institutes of other countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, South Africa and the United States of America, and is a member of the International Astronomical Union and of the International Center for Relativistic Astrophysics. In 1987, the Specola Vaticana in collaboration with the Center for theology and Natural Sciences in Berkley, California, launched a series of multi-disciplinary seminars. which through science, philosophy and theology, explore the theme of divine action from a scientific viewpoint.

The Library of Castel Gandolfo has 22,000 volumes and a precious collection of ancient books, among which, are the works of Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Keplero, Brahe, Clavio and Secchi. It also has a significant collection of meteorites, which are precious for the information they provide about the beginning of the solar system. Research results are published in international journals. Its annual report is sent to some 400 institutions throughout the world. Roughly every two years, international conferences are organized, in which some 20 scientists are invited to discuss topics related to the Observatory’s research. The discussions are then published in a volume. In 1986, a summer school program on astronomy was held at Castel Gandolfo. Lasting one month, it brought together 25 students from around the world, who followed lectures by eminent scholars. The course was repeated in 1988 and now takes place every two years. Castel Gandolfo hosts scientists who wish to cooperate with the Specola’s observers, for brief or longer periods.

The Observatory is currently funded by the Holy See. However, in order to implement special programs like VATT, the Observatory relies on the help of friends and donors. The “Vatican Observatory Foundation” was established for this purpose and is tax free in the State of Arizona.

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Spirituality and astronomy

“Spirituality and Astronomy 2024 -- ‘When They Saw the Star, They Rejoiced with Great Joy’” is the theme of a workshop that takes place from 30 August to 1 September at the Vatican Observatory headquarters. The workshop will include introductory lessons, moments of prayer and sharing, visits to telescopes and evenings dedicated to observing the skies. Participants will be accompanied by members of the Jesuit community, Vatican Observatory researchers, professors and amateur astronomers.