Vatican Observatory
The Latest
Pope Leo XIV speaks with astronomy students about ‘wonder’ of the universe
The pope spoke to students gathered as part of a monthlong astronomy and astrophysics summer school program hosted by the... Read more
At Vatican camp, young astronomers find science and faith go hand in hand
The camp is led by the Vatican Observatory’s director, Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno, who during these summer months is teaching... Read more
Summer school at Vatican Observatory offers unique opportunity for young scientists
The Vatican Observatory’s summer school, known as “Specola,” has already selected students for its next edition in June. Read more
Asteroids named for four religious sisters who mapped half a million stars
The four nuns spent up to 11 years researching 481,215 celestial bodies for the Vatican Observatory. Read more
What can science tell us about eternity? Vatican Observatory to present latest reflection
“Eternity Between Space and Time” is the title of a report by the Vatican Observatory to be released Sept. 6... Read more
A total solar eclipse through a lens of faith
When the total solar eclipse occurs on April 8, many will be looking skyward to observe the phenomenon from a... Read more
Vatican Observatory publishes new method to better understand the Big Bang theory
Two priests from the Vatican Observatory have made further progress in developing a new mathematical method to understand the Big... Read more
At Vatican Observatory, astronomers reveal thousands of newly discovered galaxies
The findings at the October conference “pave the road for a better understanding of the structure of the Milky Way... Read more
Celebrations planned for 30th anniversary of Vatican Observatory’s Arizona telescope
In 1981, the Vatican Observatory launched a research center under the famously dark Arizona skies, where it inaugurated its telescope... Read more
Meet the Vatican scientist helping NASA on a historic space mission
Brother Robert Macke, a Jesuit astronomer at the Vatican Observatory, is one of the world’s foremost experts in the study... Read more
Pope Francis to young astronomers: Keep love and wonder alive
In the vastness of space, keep love and wonder alive, Pope Francis told astronomers of the Vatican Observatory Summer School. Read more
Newly-discovered asteroids named after Jesuits — and a pope
The Vatican Observatory announced this week the naming of four newly-discovered asteroids after notable Catholics, including Pope Gregory XIII. Read more
Catholic astronomers: Newly discovered planet a testament to Earth’s ‘startling uniqueness’
Catholic scientists from the Vatican Observatory and Benedictine College hailed the discovery of the planet as a testament “to the... Read more
Vatican Observatory to reopen summer school for aspiring astronomers
The Vatican Observatory will resume its four-week summer school next June following a pause in operations due to the global... Read more
Vatican astronomer: Webb telescope space images are ‘food for the human spirit’
The first images from the James Webb space telescope reveal God’s creation and feed our souls, a Jesuit brother and... Read more
Vatican Observatory’s new website a launch pad to show the Catholic Church supports science
Br. Guy Consolmagno, director of the Vatican Observatory, said that the old website “was hardly ever visited.” Read more
Is the rare ‘Christmas Star’ visible this December the Star of Bethlehem?
The “Great Conjunction” of Jupiter and Saturn taking place this month -- dubbed the “Christmas Star” -- is a pretty... Read more
Catholic priest ‘thoroughly surprised’ to have asteroid named after him
Somewhere between Mars and Jupiter there is a hunk of rock that now bears the name of a living English... Read more
Vatican astronomer: If you're afraid of science, you don't have faith
The Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, who has worked as an astronomer and planetary scientist at the Vatican for... Read more
Vatican astronomer says 'God particle' is misnamed, but exciting
While it has no direct bearing on theology or revelation, the scientific discovery hailed by some as the “God particle”... Read more
