Vatican Observatory

Vatican Observatory
Organization
Observatory code 036 Edit this on Wikidata
LocationCastel Gandolfo, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio, Italy
Coordinates41°44′50″N 12°39′02″E / 41.747222222222°N 12.650555555556°E / 41.747222222222; 12.650555555556
Altitude430 m (1,410 ft) Edit this at Wikidata
Established1930 Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.vaticanobservatory.org Edit this at Wikidata
Vatican Observatory is located in Italy
Vatican Observatory
Location of Vatican Observatory
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The Vatican Observatory (Italian: Specola Vaticana) is an astronomical research and educational institution supported by the Holy See. Originally based in the Roman College of Rome, the Observatory is now headquartered in Castel Gandolfo, Italy and operates a telescope at the Mount Graham International Observatory in the United States.[1]

The Director of the Observatory is Brother Guy Consolmagno, an American Jesuit. In 2008, the Templeton Prize was awarded to cosmologist Fr. Michał Heller, a Vatican Observatory Adjunct Scholar. In 2010, the George Van Biesbroeck Prize was awarded to former observatory director, the American Jesuit, Fr. George Coyne.[2]

  1. ^ Johnson, George (22 June 2009). "Vatican's Celestial Eye, Seeking Not Angels but Data". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  2. ^ Dennis Sadowski (4 January 2010). "American Astronomical Society honors former Vatican Observatory head". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2010.