Vatican Observatory
|
|
The Vatican Observatory (Specola Vaticana) is the astronomical research and educational institution of the Holy See. The headquarters of the observatory are located at Castelgandolfo, Italy, sharing the summer residence of the Pope. The dependent Vatican Observatory Research Group is hosted in the Steward Observatory, at the University of Arizona,
The Observatory operates a 1.8 metre telescope atop Mount Graham, which together with its associated research facility is know as VATT (Vatican Advance Technology Telescope), whose mirror was the first one constructed at the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab.
History
The official astronomical observatory of the Vatican, in Latin Osservatorio Pontificio, Father Angelo Secchi relocated the observatory to the top of the Church of St. Ignatius in Rome.
To generations of Romans, the Vatican Observatory provided the time of day, but under Father Secchi the Observatory was a source of great contributions to astronomy during the latter half of the 19th century. In particular, Father Secchi was fascinated by the study of the sun.
After the death of Father Secchi in 1878, his successor was removed from the Observatory, and its name was changed to Regio Osservatorio al Collegio Roman, or Royal Observatory at the Roman College. The Observatory remained in operation until 1923. The office of Vatican Astronomer, however, continues.
External links
- Catholic Encyclopedia: Vatican Observatory (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15309a.htm)
- Home page for Vatican Observatory (http://clavius.as.arizona.edu/vo/R1024/VO.html)es:Observatorio Vaticano