vatican observatory NEWSLETTER Spring 2012 embacing, encouraging and pomoting scientifc study

VOF Honors Benefactors at Circles of Giving Awards Dinner

DID YOU KNOW? German Jesuit Christoph Cla- vius’s viewing of the total solar eclipse of 1560 made him de- cide that astronomy would be his life's work? He went on to write numerous textbooks and Rich Friedrich and Peter Moore was the senior mathematician on Fr. DiUlio and Marianne Augustine of the Pacifc Western Foundation the commission for the reform of On February 24, 2012, the Vatican Observatory Foundation honored friends and benefactors who have so the calendar in 1582. Te Vatican generously supported the work of the Vatican Observatory over time. Each year as donors reach a certain Observatory Foundation rec- lifetime giving level, they achieve a Circle of Giving designation and are recognized and thanked publicly ognizes his contribution to the by the President and Board of Directors as well as their fellow benefactors and friends. Each Circle of Giv- feld by welcoming benefactors of ing is named in honor of one of the exceptional individuals connected with astronomy, the $10,000 to the Christoph Clavius and the Vatican Observatory. At this year’s dinner four honorees were present to receive awards from Circle of Giving. Foundation President Fr. Albert J. DiUlio, S.J., and Board Chairman, Richard J. Friedrich. They included Christoph Clavius Bill Ahmanson of The Ahmanson Foundation; Marianne Augustine; Peter Moore of the Pacific Western Foundation; and Dan Cracchiolo of The Steele Foundation, whose award was accepted by his sister, Rose Collins. This recognition is a small token of our profound gratitude and appreciation. Without the loyal support of these wonderful people and all those who give generously to the VOF, we would not be able to sustain programs that represent the Church in the world of science. Thank you!

Pius XI Circle2011 ($100,000) CirclesAngelo o Secchi Givin Circle ($50,000)g HonorChristophees Clavius Circle The Ahmanson Foundation The Steele Foundation ($10,000) Thomas E. Golden, Jr. Marianne Augustine The John B. and Nelly Llanos Kilroy Eusebio Kino Circle ($25,000) Edward and Constance Donahue Foundation Ar-Hale Foundation Searle Karl and Bernadette Schurz Pacific Western Foundation Michael and Sylvia Szpak Georges Le Maitre Circle ($5,000) West Pharmaceuticals

Founded in 1891, the Vatican Observatory demonstrates the Church’s desire to embrace, encourage and promote scientific study, Father José Funes, S.J. 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’ (Fides et Ratio, Proemium). For more information, email ([email protected] or) or call (+1 (520) 795-1694). Father Albert J. DiUlio, S.J. President, Vatican Observatory Foundation vatican observatory

Br. Guy Travels

In 1891, Leo XIII established the Vatican Observatory “that every- one might see clearly that the Church and her Pastors are not opposed to true and solid science … but that they em- brace it, encourage it, and promote it.” Tus our task at the Vatican Observa- tory is twofold: to do the science, and to show the world what we do. One way this second task is done is with public and classroom lectures. Br. Guy Fr. DiUlio and Bill Ahmanson at the Awards Dinner Consolmagno, in his role as coordina- tor for public relations at the Specola, is one of the busiest lecturers on the Vatican Observatory Staf and regu- larly takes month-long trips to pres- Mesage fomby Fr. Albert thDiUlio,e S.J.P rsident ent talks about the Observatory and its work. Tis past winter, he traveled Spring has sprung and what passes for a Tucson winter has faded into to North America and over a period memories. Te cacti are in bloom, the roses are up and the air is full of of six weeks gave more than 30 public the marvelous fragrances of the newly awakened earth. Te inspiration presentations in various locations. of the Resurrection and the gifts of the Spirit urge us forward with light The Vancouver crowd and life. helped Br. Guy celebrate 400 years of Te Vatican Observatory Foundation is experiencing this new spring in Jesuits in Canada many ways as well. For us it is a transition to new leadership after the departure of Fr. Coyne for Syracuse, NY and LeMoyne College. His dedicated and brilliant leadership over almost three decades brought both funding and recognition to the Vatican Observatory and its fag- ship telescope, the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope. Like many wonderful organizations we now must continue to build on his vital and St. Peter Church - Charlotte NC excellent work. Stanford University - Stanford, CA Campion College, U of Regina - Regina SK As the scientists of the Vatican Observatory continue to explore God’s UC Merced - Merced CA grand universe and unlock more of its mysteries and challenges, the VOF Folsom Lake Community College - Sacramento, CA continues to seek ever more and diferent ways to fund their work. Te Capricon Science Fiction Convention - Chicago, IL VATT is not, as you know, funded by the Vatican but solely by the Vati- De Paul University - Chicago, IL can Observatory Foundation. Your continued help and support is vital to our eforts and we thank you profusely for that efort. In no other arena Benedictine College - Lisle, IL can you share in the vital work of understanding and exploring the full- Boskone SF Convention - Boston, MA ness of God’s creation. VOF Seminar - Los Angeles, CA Carr Lecture - Vancouver, BC God bless! Regis University - Denver, CO Living the Catholic Faith Conference - Denver, CO

Spring 2012 2 Reaching for the Heavens Pisa Exhibit by Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J.

On March 9, the exhibition “Storie Dall’Altro Mondo”—Stories from Another World—opened in Pisa, Italy. It's a beautifully crafted show of astronomical pho- tos, meteorite samples (including pieces of the Moon and Mars), modern artifacts, historical instruments and books, and interactive educational experiences. But two things in particular make this exhibit stand out from other astronomy shows.

First, it is being co-sponsored by an interesting group of collaborators, including the Vatican Observatory; the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics; the Depart- ment of Physics at the University of Pisa; and the Archdiocese of Pisa. In conjunc- tion with this interesting mix of scientifc and religious institutions, there is a special connection to these themes. For in fact, this is not the frst time that such diverse elements have been found together in Pisa. Indeed all of them coexisted in the life of Pietro Cardinal Maf.

Cardinal Maf served as the archbishop of Pisa in the early 20th century, but he was also a scientist and a historian of science. Famously, he proposed that a statue should be raised in Pisa to honor Galileo, its most famous astronomical son. (Tis proposal was turned down by the city, apparently for political reasons.) We remember Cardinal Maf at the Specola in his role as president of the Vatican Observatory during its formative years. He was responsible for bringing Fr. Johann Hagen, S.J. from Georgetown University to be its director, the frst Jesuit to hold that post.

Maf’s life is celebrated at the exhibition with letters and writings on matters both religious and scientifc. Among the dis- plays is a book on and geography that he received from friends in which may be the work of the famous Jesuit missionary .

Te theme of the exhibition is “the universe within and without us.” When the Vatican Observatory’s role in this exhibition was frst announced, Fr. José Funes made special note of the connection between the universal and the particular. “Te his- tory of the universe could not be told without our ‘small’ human stories,” he said. “Cardinal Maf lived a dual existence: the world of the Church and that of science… in the search for the deeper meaning of human existence.”

Fr. George Coyne, S.J., gave a lecture at Chicago's prestigious Adler Planetarium in November 2011 and was joined by VOF board member Noteworthy Sunny Chico (left), her hus- band Gery Chico (far right), and Adler President Dr. Paul Knappenberger (inner right). Jesuit provincials from Africa visited Castel Gandolfo in April 2012.

3 Spring 2012 vatican observatory

2012 Annual Meeting VOF Board member February 23-24, 2012 | Los Angeles, California Chris Hitchcock chats with NASA astronaut and keynote speaker, Nicole Stott To continue a longstandingRece traditionpt iofo sharingn & informationSemina aboutr the research being done at the Vatican Observatory, the VOF organized a seminar in Los Angeles with two pre- sentations. Fr. José G. Funes, S.J., Director of the Vatican Observatory, presented “Vatican Observatory Research: Today,” giving an excellent, informative and entertaining summary of the current staf’s work. Ten Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J., Curator of the Vatican Observa- tory meteorite collection and Planetary Scientist, presented “Exotic Dust, Exotic Moons and Exoplanets” demonstrating his vast knowledge and expertise in this area. Tese lectures were followed by quite a few questions from the well-informed audience. Our thanks to Loyola High School for allowing us to have this event and the VOF annual board meeting on their campus.

Roger Risdall, Rose Collins, Fr. DiUlio, Diane McGee and Board Member Jim McGee after the seminar

John Watkins, Tom Collins, Rose Collins, Board Member June Scobee Rodgers and Roger Risdall enjoy the seminar reception

Fr. Funes with Gary and Debra Gutt at the Seminar Old friends: Katie Steinke, Fr. Coyne, Karen and Ben Dalby

Spring 2012 4 vatican observatory Reaching for the Heavens

BreakingCi withr clestradition, of this Givin was the fgrst Awayear the awardsrds celebration Din ntooker place out- side Tucson, Arizona, and the frst year the event was presided over by the new Presi- dent, Fr. Albert J. DiUlio, S.J. It was also the perfect occasion to honor Fr. George V. Coyne, S.J., who retired from the observatory at the end of 2011 and who graciously made the trek to the west coast from his new teaching position at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York. Fr. José G. Funes, S.J., Directory of the Vatican Observatory, presented Fr. Coyne with the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifce award. One of the highest honors given to clergy and religious, the cross is awarded for distinguished service to the Holy Father and the . Te Board of Directors of the VOF also honored Fr. Coyne’s long service to the organization by giving him a new laptop computer and showing a short flm depicting much of his life from the Mary- land novitiate through the many years at the observatory and the foundation. We all wish him well.

Fr. Funes presents Papal Award to Fr. Coyne

Board members stand to honor Fr. Coyne

5 Spring 2012 vatican observatory

East Meets West by Fr. Gabriele Gionti, S.J.

In October 2011, I made my second visit to China. I was very excited to participate as invited speaker at the III Galileo- Quangqi meeting in . Organized by ICRANET (a network of scientifc institutions of which the Vatican Observatory is part), the idea was to celebrate the science of the East and the West through the work of two eminent scientifc fgures: Galileo for the West and Xu Quangqi for the East.

Xu Quangqi was a Chinese scientist of the seventeenth century, and a close friend and collaborator of the great Jesuit missionary and scientist Fr. Matteo Ricci, S.J. Fr. Ricci introduced western science in China through the translation into Chinese of the critical edition of the Elements of the Jesuit mathematician Fr. Christopher Clavius, S.J. (Tis year also celebrates the 400th anniversary of the death of Fr. Clavius). Te meeting "This marked an exciting moment for me, attracted a vast audience of international scholars in astrophysics and the topics discussed were quite broad—from Observational Astronomy to especially from a spiritual point of view." Quantum Gravity.

A moving moment of the conference occurred when all participants took part in the ceremony in which Prof. Remo Rufni, Director of ICRANET, laid fowers on the tomb of Fr. Matteo Ricci, S.J., who died in 1610. Tis marked an exciting moment for me, especially from a spiritual point of view. Since my novitiate, I have been fascinated by the apostolic work of Fr. Ricci, and especially his ability to use science as a medium for evangelization. And there I stood at his grave, admiring the inscriptions on his tomb, both in and Chinese!

During my trip, I also visited the Forbidden City in Beijing and viewed astronomical instruments and tools which belonged to the Jesuit missionaries and astronomers Fr. Schall S.J. and Fr. Ferdinand Vierbiest, S.J. Fr. Vierbiest succeeded Fr. Ricci in the Jesuit mission in China. Also memorable was my visit to the Old Beijing Astronomical Observatory to see its impressive collection of antique astronomical instruments.

Te Tird Galileo-Xu Guangqi Meeting

Spring 2012 6 Reaching for the Heavens IAU in China Astronomy and Cultural In August 2012 China will for the frst time host the General Assembly of Exchange between the International Astronomical Union in Beijing. Tis triennial gathering China and European of astronomers from around the world to discuss and debate the most recent discoveries about the universe is an important part of the vitality of the feld. Jesuits in 17th Century Te Vice Director for the Vatican Observatory Research Group (VORG), Fr. by Fr. Paul Gabor, S.J. Christopher Corbally, S.J. and four other staf members of the Vatican Observatory will attend the two-week long meeting, making presentations, sharing research Between 104 BC and 1644 AD the Chinese results and participating in discussions. As National Representative for Vatican government reformed the calendar about City, Fr. Corbally will also vote in the General Assembly. 50 (fifty!) times because they needed Experience the Wonders of China the calendar to conform to the heavens. on a 13-day Ignatian Pilgrimage The records of the Bureau of the Heavens (government office in charge of the calendar) go back to October 22, 2137 BC, and the continuous record goes back to the 6th c. BC, but they never attempted to understand the motions of heavenly objects

Since the ancient Greeks, Westerners (not quite according to Huntington's definition) tend to believe that the world is knowable. We believe that the Universe was created October 26 - November 7, 2012 by our Father, who is approachable and generous, who does not micromanage but gives His creation great autonomy, and oin us on an exciting tour of historical Jesuit sites in China, where you'll endowed us, humans, with intellect so that Jcome to experience the wonders of this fascinating part of the world. We'll be we could learn about the world. staying in fve-star hotels in several cities, including Beijing, Xi'an, Xiamen and . Co-leading the tour will be Fr. Jerry Martinson, S.J., Jenny Go and Fr. The Chinese, traditionally, have a much Albert DiUlio, S.J. Te vice president of Kuangchi Program Services, Fr. Mar- more respectful attitude towards the deities tinson has spent years in Asia creating and producing videos and articles on the that fashioned this Universe, assuming that culture and history of the region. Go is the former secretary of for the the designs of the gods are unfathomable Jesuit Conference of East Asia and the Pacifc. Fr. DiUlio is the newly appointed by mere human intellect. The Chinese did president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation. not believe that the gods infused the world with set Natural Laws, making it somehow autonomous, and they considered it an unthinkable presumption if anyone claimed Historical places of interest include: the world to be knowable. Te Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, North Cathedral of Beijing, Tomb of Jesuit Matteo Ricci, Great Wall of China, Terra Cotta Army, She That is why astronomy played such a central Shan Basilica and many other places role in the unparalleled cultural exchange For information or to mediated by the Jesuit missionaries in China reserve your spot, please visit: in the 17th century. www.jesuitscalifornia.org/chinatrip [email protected]

7 Spring 2012 vatican observatory foundation 2017 East Lee Street Tucson, Arizona 85719 specola vaticana V-00120 Città del Vaticano Roma, Italia

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

CONNECT WITH US. The VOF is increasingly communicating by email. Please send us your email address— and together we’ll save trees and keep you informed about exciting things happening in the cosmos.

VISIT US ONLINE: www.vofoundation.org

inside Your Invitation to a Jesuit Pilgrimage in China Pisa Exhibit 2012 Seminar and Awards Dinner

An Orbital Perspective

The VOF was honored to have NASA astronaut Nicole Passonno Stott address friends and benefactors gathered for the Circles of Giving dinner. Watching and listening to Nicole’s first hand videos and photos from her time in space, the crowd was utterly fascinated. "I consider myself blessed to have had the opportunity to see our planet from the vantage point of low Earth orbit,” Nicole said. “And I'm really thankful to be here tonight to share some of the perspective I've gained from my time on the International Space Station and how I believe the work of the Vatican Observatory and that of NASA are very complimentary.” Nicole regaled the audience with her experience in space, and her impressions of Earth as seen from above. Further, she shared some of her own thoughts about the beautiful and remarkable world in which we live. “A couple of statements from the Vatican Observatory mission stand out to me in particular,” she said. “These include, ‘To Astronaut Nicole Stott prior increase our understanding of the wonder and beauty of the universe God has given us’ and 'a great reminder of the majesty to her NASA mission to the and awe of the universe...and of the important dialogue between faith and science.” International Space Station aboard "Discovery." Nicole and her husband, Chris, have been friends and supporters of the observatory for several years, and we thank them for sharing their story and their generosity with us.

Photos courtesy of NASA