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N E W S L E T T VATICAN OBSERVATORY NEWSLETTER Fall 2015 embracing, encouraging and promoting scientific study Photo Credit: Paul Mattek - Design Fugitives COSMIC ECCLESIASTICAL BALDACCHINO ARTICLE ON PAGE 6 Founded in 1891, the Vatican Observatory demonstrates the Church’s desire to embrace, encourage and promote scientific study, Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J. on the basis of her conviction that ‘faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of Director, Vatican Observatory truth’ (Fides et Ratio, Proemium). For more information, email ([email protected]) or call (+1 (520) 795-1694). President, Vatican Observatory Foundation VATICAN OBSERVATORY FOUNDATION Page 2 President’sby Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J.Message Pope Francis congratulates Br. Guy The Directors. Pope Francis thanks Fr. Jose Funes. Photo Credits: Osservatore Romano On September 29, 1935, Pope Pius in Tucson. That’s not because the folks predecessors have put together. My task XI dedicated our new quarters and in Tucson haven’t been doing their job, will mostly be to get out of their way and telescopes in the Pope’s summer palace but rather because they’ve been doing let them fly. And that includes everyone in Castel Gandolfo. To celebrate the it very well indeed. As a result, we now who considers themselves a friend of 80 years since that dedication, on the have a telescope that is constantly being the Observatory: everyone reading this week of September 14-18, 2015 the improved and constantly more heavily newsletter! You should know that all the members of the Vatican Observatory subscribed, and therefore one that needs good thoughts and best wishes I have held a symposium in Castel Gandolfo, an ever more stable and secure source of received from everyone have meant a including a visit to the old domes that annual funding. So, I plan to spend the great deal to me. Pius XI had dedicated so long ago. majority of the coming year in the US. The active involvement of the Popes We finished on Friday with a private There are two linked reasons for in our work during all those years, down audience in Rome with Pope Francis – this. First, I have always been sensitive to Pope Francis receiving us this month, just before his US trip. After giving us to the fact that when Pope Leo XIII should remind us of the weight of history a short address, the Pope looked up and founded the observatory (in 1891) he in the work you and I are doing, and the saw me. He smiled and said, “Ah! The stated that it was so that the world could importance that the Papacy attaches to New Director!” clearly see that the Church supported our work. Remember, this Observatory It’s true. I am the new director of the good science. Doing good science is, was the Pope’s idea, not ours! Vatican Observatory. (I actually didn’t obviously essential for that; otherwise But beyond that, I hope that all completely believe it until I heard him we have nothing to show. But the the events we put on, and the future say it.) I am now stepping into Fr. Funes’ “showing” is also essential. We’ve done events we describe in this newsletter, position, an awesome responsibility… that in an ad-hoc way for the past 20 reflects another quality that motivates and a tough act to follow. years, at least. I am trying to organize everything we do in astronomy: a sense What will my new position mean for a more systematic approach to our of joy. The stars are glorious, and it’s Vatican Observatory Foundation? The education and public outreach. The a treat to be engaged in their study… honest answer is, I don’t know yet. I’ve Foundation is the obvious vehicle for because, their glory proclaims the Glory only just moved into my new office; ask that effort. of their Creator. me again in the spring! But you should But, in addition, if we want to have know that I will continue as President stable funding for our Observatory in Astronomy is a joyful profession. of the Vatican Observatory Foundation. the US, it also has to come through the And I intend to have fun at this job. In fact, my immediate feeling is that Foundation. the Observatory is in pretty good shape I’m looking forward to working with in Rome but we need a lot of attention the incredible staff and facilities that my Fall 2015 Page 3 Reaching for the Heavens 2015 Student Astrophotography Project Loyola High School, Using the sensitive science-grade Los Angeles, Field electronic camera on our 1.8 m telescope Trip to Tucson (VATT), last march Fr. Richard Boyle SJ provided raw data for a unique project March 2015 allowing students at our partner Jesuit high schools in Los Angeles and San Loyola students took part in the Francisco to learn first hand how to Astrophotography Project but were process and assemble professional-grade also thrilled to spend two days astronomy images. in Tucson learning more about The students determined what astronomy up close. Their teacher, deep sky object for him to image. They Andrey Aristov, took them to did the research to find a suitable the mirror lab under the football object — something that was more stadium at The University of than 20 degrees above the horizon at Arizona where the VATT mirror the established time, but more than ten was made long ago and many key degrees away from the zenith, and an mirrors are made today. Fr. Paul object that was not too bright, not too Gabor gave them a tour of Steward big. Observatory on the UA campus The object could not be too where the Vatican Observatory bright, less than fifth magnitude i.e. color image — which became their Research Group has their offices. not the Moon or a visible planet, since souvenirs of the astronomy class! The group then went on to see the that would have swamped the CCD Ethan Vedder, Astronomy teacher, numerous telescopes on Kitt Peak chip. Nor could it be too big. The total St. Ignatius Prep, San Francisco: and did some hands-on observing field of view of the camera is 12.5 arc “I thought it was really interesting to at the SkyCenter on Mt. Lemmon. minutes square, but nothing much larger see how different the student images were than 8 arc minutes by 8 arc minutes was from each other when we all started with recommended to be certain that it fit the same exact raw data. It shows a deeper in the field of view of the camera. On level of what scientists and technicians do the other hand, objects less than an arc to represent data in a meaningful and still minute across may not show up very authentic way to their audience. well. So, for example, assuming it were Our students were new to working visible, the Andromeda Galaxy would with file and image data and with photoshop, have been too big to fit in the field of but from the start they were excited to view, while Neptune would probably have so much control over their work. have been too small to make a nice They researched several appropriate night image. sky objects, they picked M99 as the object Once the object was chosen the to be photographed, they manipulated the students sent the coordinates (RA and data and the filters, and they produced a Dec) to Fr. Boyle. He took three digital variety of images as final productions. I images, in red, green, and blue filters, felt really rewarded as a teacher as I saw did the basic flat-fielding to remove the the students progressing with the process, chip flaws, and sent the students raw and then I could literally hear them get images. The students then determined excited about producing their final image. how to combine the images into a full I would do this again in a heartbeat.” VATICAN OBSERVATORY FOUNDATION Page 4 “An Amazing Experience” Fr. William Holtzinger • Pastor, St. Anne Catholic Church • Grants Pass, Oregon included methods on teaching the constellations to children as well as the philosophy of science in an age of “new atheists”. Br. Guy gave a talk on the current issue of physics, metaphysics, and cosmology and explained how science and faith Last summer, an invitation went out collaborate in the search for the today’s culture. We need to enter into to the dioceses of the United States Truth. One asks how things happen the cultural debate and help assist in to join the Vatican Observatory (physics and astronomy) and the the quest for the Truth. Foundation for a five-day workshop other asks what meaning do they For an astronomy geek like me, on faith and astronomy for priests and have (theology and philosophy). it was an amazing experience. I Catholic educators. This was their The Faith and Astronomy look forward to sharing the work first time offering such a workshop. Workshop will be held again, of the Vatican Observatory in my Among the 60 who applied, 25 were beginning on January 16, 2016. We preaching and other public speaking accepted, including myself. As an need to encourage more clergy opportunities. It was truly a thrill amateur astronomer, this was a once- and Catholic educators to take to be able to meet Catholics doing in-a-lifetime opportunity. So in late advantage of this new opportunity serious astronomy and spend time January, I packed my bags and headed being offered by our Church.
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