“The simplicity of the encounter, from beginning to end: Avatican brother among brothers.” observatory Pope Francis joined his fellow Jesuits to celebrate the Feast of their founder, St. Ignatius, with Mass at the Church of the Gesu’ in Rome. Afterwards Father Adolfo Nicholas, leader of the Society of Jesus, shared these observations. “ The opportunity to experience how Francis celebrates Eucharist,NEWSLETTER without liturgical flourish. On the contrary, he has a heartfelt and meditative style, like one who is in contact with mystery, a style that we Jesuits are used to" Fall 2013 embacing, encouraging and pomoting scientifc study To the Edge of the Universe: the Vatican Observatory Welcomes Pope Francis

From Fr. Jose’ Funes’ interview Fr. Funes: Exactly. He was one of with Ms. Fausta Speranza of the our brothers. So it was a double joy: Vatican Radio after the Pope's visit to have the Pope with us, the Jesuit on July 14, 2013. Pope. Ten, it was the frst time that a Pope had lunch with the Jesuit “We announce with joy that Pope community of the Observatory: this Francis has had lunch with the too was something extraordinary. Jesuit community of the Vatican Observatory. We are deeply moved!” Ms. Speranza: Of the words Tis was the frst of a series of Pope Francis has said up till messages posted on Twitter on now, what teachings have Sunday by Jesuit astronomers of meant the most for your work? Castel Gandolfo – frst in Italian and then in English, Spanish and Fr. Funes: I think it is that which French. Te Vatican Observatory the Pope has insisted on from the has its headquarters in the Pontifcal beginning: go to the boundaries, Villas of Castel Gandolfo, while the and not only geographical, but also Pontifcal Palace, directly above the existential [boundaries]. Our mission apartment of the Pope, continues to is part of this going to the farthest host the domes with telescopes. boundaries - if I can say it like that - because it has to do with the universe: Fr. Funes: It was a very beautiful we go back, in the sense that we also for us Jesuits who work at the explore the beginning of the universe Vatican Observatory. It was truly from the point of view of science, but very beautiful, and we are very happy! we also go far away, because we also It was a very beautiful moment, study the farthest, the most distant because during lunch we were able to galaxies ... And this brings up the talk about the activities and projects questions that we all should ask about of the Observatory, and then about the relationship between science and what we do, about our mission. faith. I think this is the mission of the Observatory: go out to the truly most Ms. Speranza: Father Funes, Pope distant boundaries, the boundaries of Francis at the Vatican Observatory the universe that is always a gift of was also a Jesuit among Jesuits? God.

Father José Funes, S.J. Founded in 1891, the Vatican Observatory demonstrates the Church’s desire to embrace, encourage and promote scientific study, Director, Vatican Observatory on the basis of her conviction that ‘faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth’ Father Albert J. DiUlio, S.J. (Fides et Ratio, Proemium). For more information, email ([email protected]) or call (+1 (520) 795-5314). President, Vatican Observatory Foundation vatican observatory

Message byfrom Fr. Albert DiUlio, the S.J. President

Tese past months have brought a burst of action ty of Arizona. Tis will be a complicated and chal- followed by a summer slowdown to the Vatican Ob- lenging project that will bring the three telescopes servatory Foundation (VOF). Four of our scientists to the cutting edge of technology enabling many have spent time in Europe attending conferences and more scientists and educators to use the telescopes continuing their research at our headquarters, Castel without the long trip back and forth from Mt. Gra- Gandolfo. I have made several trips and spent time ham. As I mentioned in the previous newsletter talking with folks in the Midwest and its environs. the savings in time and money will be substantial. We continue to pursue and make great progress with remote observing from Mt. Graham and also toward Te VOF will continue to be a vitally important mis- the full automation (robotization) of the Vatican Ad- sion of the Church, the Society of Jesus and the entire vanced Technology Telescope (VATT) in conjunction Catholic populace and none of this would be possible with two of the University of Arizona’s smaller tele- without your continued generosity and support. As I scopes. In our last Newsletter some of this was pre- stated in my last newsletter, ‘In no other area of the sented and is well along in planning and execution. Church can you share in this vital work of understand- ing and exploring the fullness of God’s marvelous cre- Te full robotization of the three telescopes is in ation for this is truly where the Church “Reaches for the planning and estimate stages between the VOF, the Heavens”.’ the Vatican Observatory (VO) and the Universi-

Tour the Magnifcent Countryside and Telescopes of Chile November 2014

Thanks to the generous collaboration of Dr. Fernando Comeron, an alumnus of the 1990 Vatican Observatory Summer School and currently European Southern Observatory (ESO) Representative in Chile, friends of the Vatican Observatory Foundation are invited to join Br. Guy Consomagno and Katie Steinke for an exclusive 12-day tour of astronomical Chile. Spend two extraordinary nights at ESO facilities at La Silla and on Paranal! See some of the most amazing astronomical instruments under some of the darkest night skies on earth! See the current most advanced optical instrument, the Very Large Telescope (VLT) array on Paranal, and the incredible number of telescopes at the older ESO site at La Silla. With medical permission you may also visit the extremely high Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). With the clear skies and altitude you might see the ! Plus we will take in Santiago, the coastal town of Valparaiso, the wine growing Elqui River Valley, San Pedro de Atacama and the Valley of the . The cost will be approximately $5,000 per person and includes some meals, all lodging and all air and bus transportation within Chile. It does not include air travel to and from Chile. The exact dates are to be determined but the tour will complete well before Thanksgiving. To express interest contact Katie Steinke at [email protected]. Space will be limited. To see amazing photos and to fnd out more about the ESO go to www.eso.org.

Fall 2013 2 vatican observatory

2014 Offcial Calendar of the Vatican ObservatoryReaching foMysteriesr the of HeavenCygnus OB2 ands Cygnus X: a Workshop at Vatican Observatory Te newest edition of this annual publication is ready for distribution. Calendars are available for $25 each Cygnus OB2 is an association of perhaps a thousand young, massive or $20 each for bulk stars, some of them a hundred times more massive than the Sun and orders of 4 or more. OFFICIAL CALENDAR OF THE a million times brighter, immersed in a much larger molecular cloud known as Cygnus X. Because it is so close to us (“only” 4700 light Te VOF is happy VOBSERVATORY to mail calendars to years away) we can study Cygnus OB2 in detail, comparing model gift recipients if the predictions about the formation of such massive stars with actual names and addresses observations. These studies might help us understand how such stars are included with are born not only in our galaxy but also in more distant galaxies. payment. 2014 But that mass of data can overwhelm our understanding. It’s impossible To place an order: for any one astronomer to keep track of all the latest developments. And so from May 15 to 17th, the Vatican Observatory hosted a -Use the enclosed workshop at Castel Gandolfo on Cygnus OB2 and Cygnus X, organized envelope and pay by check or credit card. All appropriate by Dr. Fernando Comeron of the European Southern Observatory areas must be completed. and Fr. Christopher Corbally of the Vatican Observatory. Two dozen -Order online by visiting the Vatican Observatory astronomers attended, coming from Belgium, Chile, France, Germany, Foundation website: www.vofoundation.org Italy, Spain, , the United Kingdom, and the United States. -You may also send a check made out to the Vatican Observatory Foundation including a return address to: “This is a meeting of the blind men talking about the elephant,” one participant mused. The rich bounty of information available about Cygnus Vatican Observatory Foundation OB2 and Cygnus X and the wide variety of ways they can be studied 2017 East Lee Street motivated the astronomers to discuss how they might come up with Tucson, AZ 85719 a coherent interpretive picture of them. That work was by no means complete at the end of the workshop; rather, the participants went away If you have any question please contact with a deeper understanding of the complexities of star formation, but [email protected] or (805) 901-6591 also with new friendships and collaborations to help them explore this problem in the future.

About 150 of the more than 4,000 current Inmates at San Quentin State Prison enjoy the Vatican Observatory calendars each year. The prison was built in 1852 and covers 432 acres. Fr. George Williams, S.J., the Catholic Chaplain at the prison, works with the men in the photo Per Olof Lindblad (right) and Chip Kobulnicky examining the Specola Visitor’s Book with with him and hundreds others alongside a Jewish Rabbi, a Muslim Imam, and a Protestant signatures of a similar workshop held in 1957 at the Vatican. Among the at- Minister. These men and those on death row who have our calendars have expressed grati- tendees of that meeting who signed that page was Per Olof’s father, the famous Swedish astronomer Bertil Lindblad. tude for being able to have the beauty of God’s Universe on their walls.

3 Fall 2013 vatican observatory

News from the Observatory: Science, Religion and Visitors

In Castel Gandolfo Professor Glaskow and the Kilgraston School Daniel Britt of the University of in Perth. From September 29th to Central Florida presented a seminar on October 4th he is leading an Anglican “Orbits and Ice Ages” in June. Astronomy Retreat at Launde Abbey in Leicestershire, England. In July Professor Daniel Apai of the University of Arizona gave a seminar on Besides Pope Francis and NASA “Extrasolar Storms: Exploring Cloud astronauts (see photo below) there Cover and Atmospheric Dynamics in were many other visitors to the Vatican Brown Dwarfs and Exoplanets” Observatory headquarters in Castel Gandolfo over the past few months During the summer Dr. Matteo including a group from Galloro, Italy, Galaverni, now a seminarian in Reggio during their 30 day Spiritual Exercises Emilia, Italy, visited the Specola to retreat, Jesuit scholastics studying at the work with Fr. Gabriele Gionti. While Gesu’ in Rome, a group of Legionaries there Dr. Galaverni gave a presentation of Christ, a BBC crew flming a on “Lorenz Invariance and Cosmic documentary on the observatory’s Rays”. work with the Carte du Ciel star map, Students from one of the oldest junior year abroad programs, the John Felice Rome Center of Loyola visitors from the Milan Planetarium, University Chicago, are pictured here with Brother In September Br. Guy Consolmagno several amateur astronomy groups, Guy Consolmagno, during their visit to Castel is speaking at several schools in benefactors and many friends. Gandolfo in May. Scotland: the Jesuit High School in

Longtime VOF supporters, NASA Astronauts, Ron Garan and Nicole Stott, visited Castel Gandolfo with their fami- lies this summer. Pictured are: (L to R) Carmel and Ron Garan, VO Director, Fr. Jose Funes, their guide for the day, Fr. Gabriele Gionti and keynote speaker at our 2012 Annual Awards Banquet, Nicole Stott.

Fall 2013 4 vatican observatory

Reaching for the HeavenHigh School Astronomerss Reach Out to Incoming Near Earth Object

Comet ISON will make an appearance in Earth’s sky in 2013. While it’s hard to predict just how bright International Network of Catholic Astronomical Institutions (INCAI) the will be when it arrives, some astronomers are saying that it could be as bright as the full moon Among other activities INCAI, of which the VO is a founding member, organizes or perhaps, even visible in daylight. ISON is expect- annual workshops on research in Astronomy. Te First INCAI Workshop was held ed to get as close as 800,000 miles (1.2 million at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2011. Te Sec- km) from the sun’s surface, providing it survives the ond INCAI Workshop was held last year at the Catholic University of America, gravitational forces or the sun’s radiation. That clos- Washington, in 2012. Te Tird INCAI Workshop will be held at the Pontifcia est approach will take place at Thanksgiving. Universidad Católica in Santiago, Chile, in 19-24 August 2013. Te theme of the III INCAI Workshop is Exploring the Nature of the Evolving Universe. Te scope Thanks to VATT remote observing capabilities, the of the workshop is to discuss evolution in the Universe at all scales, from the forma- VOF dedication to education and the generous tion and evolution of planets, stars and galaxies to the Big Bang. support of our benefactors, a pilot program will be New Names for ’s : Kerberos and Styx connecting high school astronomy students with VATT researchers, Fr. Jean-Baptiste Kikwaya and Carl Hergenrother, who will be following ISON as Te IAU has ofcially approved two ferent nations and cultures represented it nears earth. If all goes well this program will by the IAU. names for two newly discovered moons be expanded and become a permanent part of our of Pluto: Kerberos and Styx. Te new Discoverers get to propose names. Te educational mission. moons are important because they help New Horizons team had previously sweep out the material in the region that found two other moons, and they chose will soon be visited by the New Hori- the names and Hydra. (Teir ini- moons, opened up their naming to an zons spacecraft – a NASA probe that tials are the initials of New Horizons.) on-line Internet vote. Nearly half a mil- will speed close by Pluto in July, 2015. In that case, the IAU suggested the odd lion votes were tallied, fueled in part by In preparation for that encounter, scien- spelling for Nix since there was already the suggestion of “Vulcan” from Star tists had been looking carefully to see if an 3908 Nyx. But Mark Show- Trek actor William Shatner. Vulcan did Pluto might be surrounded by rings of alter of the SETI institute, who led indeed get the most votes; Cerberus was dust or other material that might dam- the team that discovered the two new second, and Styx came in third. age the spacecraft during its encounter. Te presence of the small moons helps Again, there is already an asteroid 1865 reassure them that any other potentially Cerberus, so the IAU committee sug- dangerous stuf nearby has probably gested the alternate Greek spelling of been swept up by their gravity. Kerberos. Vulcan was turned down be- cause the name is already strongly as- Satellite names are approved by the sociated with a long-sought (but never International Astronomical Union’s found) planet inside Mercury, and be- Working Group on Planetary Surface cause it had little association with the Nomenclature; and Brother Guy Con- Roman underworld. Tere was another solmagno of the Vatican Observatory problem with Vulcan as well, however. sits on that committee. Temes are cho- As it happened, Brother Consolmag- sen as mnemonics; moons of Pluto, for no had a chance to chat with William example, are named for characters as- Shattner earlier this spring, and he ex- sociated with the underworld in Greek plained his reluctance to use the name. and Roman mythology. No more than “Tese moons are very small, really in- one solar system body can have the signifcant,” he pointed out. “Vulcan is same name. And the names must re- just too wonderful a name to use up on spect the sensibilities of the many dif- such a small body!" 5 Fall 2013 vatican observatory

Finding God in Meteorites Meet the Newest Member of the Vatican Observatory Staff: Br. Robert Macke, S.J.

One of the things that attracted me to the properties in a doctoral program. With the Society of Jesus was the Ignatian principle provincial’s blessing, I left regency after only of fnding God in all things. I saw Jesuits one year and spent the next four years at the seeking and fnding God in so many ways, University of Central Florida measuring the from ministering in the Tird World, to densities of meteorites, the percentages of delving into questions of philosophy and pore space within them and their responses theology to exploring the grandeur of the to a magnetic feld. And somehow, as part of universe. graduate studies and in the context of Jesuit life, I was to fnd God in these rocks from As someone with a background in physics outer space. and astronomy, I am no stranger to the idea that by studying God’s creation we encounter Studying meteorites can be tedious work, God. As a 38-year-old, frstyear theology but the pursuit involved travel to New York, student at Boston College and a recent Washington, Chicago and London where graduate of a physics doctoral program, I can meteorites are held in museum or university see in hindsight a pattern of formation as a collections. Jesuit brother that has only strengthened this As I studied more than 1,300 specimens, Tis work also allowed me to minister to idea. sometimes the tedium of the repetitive people in the sciences. Simply by being a After I completed philosophy studies in 2006, process became too great. I then would scientist and a member of a religious order, I I began teaching physics and astronomy hold one of the more primitive meteorites stand as a counterexample to the false notion at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, in my hand and muse upon it, reminding that science and faith are incompatible. My a wonderful opportunity to teach in my myself that it was 4.5 billion years old, one presence has sparked many conversations feld and minister to students. Introductory of the earliest objects to form when the solar with colleagues who wish to explore that astronomy courses are particularly well- system itself was forming, and holding clues idea more deeply and who have no other suited to this task because they provide a to that history. way to do so. context for inspiring wonder at the universe Now that the doctorate is completed and and exploring the relationship between faith theological studies have begun, I have not and science. Undergraduates come with so abandoned the pursuit of science. Fr. Cyril many questions, and they respond very well Opeil has provided space in his lab at to encouragement to explore those questions. Boston College where I can construct some During that time, I heard from a Jesuit new research instruments. Furthermore, by friend at the Vatican Observatory, Br. helping out with campus ministry at my Guy Consolmagno, who told me about an alma mater, the Massachusetts Institute of opportunity to study meteorite physical Technology, I can continue to have good conversations about faith and science with its many students of science and engineering. In my spare time, I research properties of lunar materials, which led to a visit over Christmas break to study Apollo moon rocks at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Embedded within the meteorite are a few tiny grains of material that survived the heat But most importantly, I am discovering that and shock of its forming and that remain theology studies themselves provide tools essentially unchanged from the moment for integrating these pursuits with the many they were created in stars. Tey are literally other ways in which we are called stardust. I am awestruck, and in that awe I to fnd God in all things. once again encounter God. from Jesuit Bulletin of the Missouri Province Fall 2013 6 UPCOMING ChristopherReaching Corbally, fo S.J.r andthe Co-Author Heaven Margarets Rappaport EVENTS present at VIII Conference on the Inspiration of Astronomical Phenomena, “City of Stars” in NYC

OCTOBER 12, 2013 Christopher Corbally, S.J., Vatican Observatory, and his co-author, Margaret Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the VATT Boone Rappaport, an anthropologist, gave a joint presentation at the INSAP Visit the telescope at the Mt. Graham VIII conference at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, July 13 – 19. International Observatory Tis unusual conference is held about every three years, with the goal of explor- ing the inspiration that astronomical phenomena provide to the arts and litera- JANUARY 8, 2014 ture. About half the attendees are astronomers and half are artists, writers, and Margaret Rappaport and Fr. Chris Corbally, educators. Te conference was instituted by the late Ray White (University of S.J. will present Arizona), George V. Coyne, S.J. (then Director of the Vatican Observatory), and “Our Relationship with the Sky” Rolf Sinclair (then at the National Science Foundation). Te frst meeting was held at the Vatican Observatory in 1994. 6:30 PM at the Marian Club - a group of women who meet monthly to promote spiri- Te theme of the 2013 conference was “City of Stars,” and co-authors Corbally tuality, friendship, social opportunities and and Rappaport joined others in a session on “Our Relationship with the Sky.” growth. Teir joint presentation was on “Visible Supernovae in A.D. 1054, 2054, and St. Thomas the Apostle Church 3054: Inspiration for the Religious and Artistic of the Past and Future.” As part 5150 North Valley Road of their eforts to develop new formats to educate youth and the general public Tucson, Arizona on both religious and astronomical topics, Corbally and Rappaport performed two skits and an interpretive dialogue to convey their theoretical model. Te au- thors repeated their presentation in Pasadena, CA, in August as keynote speak- FEBRUARY 11, 2014 ers for the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 2013 International Symposium. Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J. will present Another performance, with a third skit added, is scheduled for the Marian Club, “Why Science Needs God” in Tucson, Arizona, in January 2014 (see Upcoming Events to the left). Santa Clara University, California Tis presentation stems from the authors’ Human Sentience Project© that asks, Part of the 2013-2014 Bannan Institute: “What is so special about the way humans think?” and it looks for answers, start- "What Good Is God?" ing with a foundation in semiotics and moving through existing fndings from Bannan Institutes are yearlong thematic archaeology, evolutionary biology, cognitive psychology, and theology, to extrapo- programs that address matters of signifi- late the underpinnings of human thinking in Science, Religion, and Art – what cance within the Jesuit, Catholic intellectual co-authors Corbally and Rappaport call, “Advanced Domains of Tought.” Te tradition, foster an ethic of dialogue among Human Sentience Project is interdisciplinary, addressing fundamental questions persons of diverse religious and philosophi- at the intersection of Science and Religion. Yet, it relies fully on the latest fnd- cal commitments, and facilitate opportuni- ings in the social and physical sciences. ties for interdisciplinary exchange across the University and broader community. A Journey to A few place remain - contact [email protected] FEBRUARY 20 - 21, 2014 Rome & for information Annual Seminar and Awards Dinner Tucson, Arizona Castelgandolfo Thursday, February 20 at 6:00 PM Reception and Seminar 7 Days: November 3 to 9, 2013 Friday, February 21 at 6:00 PM Under the Leadership of: Circles of Giving Awards Dinner Rev. Albert J. DiUlio, SJ & Katie Steinke

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a. Upper right corner of the mailpiece. b. Upper right corner of the address area. c. To the right of the address on an address label. inside Pope Francis Visits the Observatory 2014d. To the Calendars right of the for addressSale on anMeet inse rtBrother appearing Macke through a window envelope. [P040.2.4] Quotes from Recent Letters to Sacred Space Giving Program Participants “When asked why the Church is involved in science, one of our answers has always been, to show the scientific world that the Church is not against science; and that we, being both in the Church and in the scientific world, also want to assure the Church that science is not incompatible with Church teachings. We also say that our commitment in studying the created universe draws us to the Creator. In the first chapter of the book of Genesis, at the end of each day of creation, God says that what has been created was beautiful. This beauty really exists and is an embedded reality in the world. It is the truth that invites us to go behind what we see, what we touch, what we analyze. It is this beauty we invite the scientific world to encounter in their work. Actually, they do perceive it. But some choose to ignore it; others embrace it, and let themselves be inspired by it. For those who face more ultimate questions raised within their scientific research, but whose answers go beyond science into the realm of philosophy and theology, we accompany them.

We thank you for supporting us. Your support allows us to continue to show the world that science opens some doors whose keys are in the hands of our fellow professional astronomers; and that collaborating with them can only make science stronger. “ Fr. Jean-Baptiste Kikwaya, S.J.

“…this scientific research, as any endeavor in science, may be seen as a religious experience. An experience in which God reveals to us through the harmony and the beauty we find in nature. “ Fr. Gabriele Gionti, S.J. Join us on our ourney of discovery. Help the “There is no conflict between faith and science, if each is properly understood. Con- VOF bring together scientists, philanthropists and the flicts arise when we misunderstand the scope and the limitations of the natural sci- Sacred Catholic Church to facilitate and promote scientific ences and theology. We deeply appreciate your interest in our work here at the research of the heavens through support of the Vatican Vatican Observatory, and your generosity in helping us continue this mission that the Space Advanced Technology Telescope and educational initiatives around the world. As a benefit to your Church has given us. “ Fr. Bill Stoeger, S.J. monthly contribution, you will receive a complimentary Sacred Space prayer book. Support the Vatican To join this monthly automatic giving program and receive the quarterly letters like these Observatory Foundation today. see our website or contact Katie Steinke at (805) 901-6591. Giving