If you’ve ever wondered what is the name of the telescope at the Vatican, you’re not alone. Many people are surprised to learn that the Catholic Church operates a major astronomical research center with a powerful telescope.
The answer is the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, or VATT. It’s located not in Rome, but high atop Mount Graham in southeastern Arizona, USA. This telescope is a key instrument for the Vatican Observatory, one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world.
This article will tell you all about this fascinating telescope, why the Vatican is involved in science, and what astronomers are learning with it.
What Is The Name Of The Telescope At The Vatican
The primary optical telescope operated by the Vatican Observatory is the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope. Its official abbreviation is VATT. It began operations in 1993.
It’s important to clarify a common point of confusion. The Vatican Observatory also uses other telescopes, including some historic ones at its headquarters in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. However, the VATT in Arizona is its main, modern research instrument for cutting-edge astronomy.
Key Specifications of the VATT
To understand why this telescope is special, let’s look at its technical details:
- Aperture: 1.83 meters (72 inches). This is the diameter of its main mirror, which collects light from distant stars and galaxies.
- Type: It is a Gregorian design telescope. This type uses two concave mirrors, which provides excellent image quality over a wide field of view.
- Mirror Technology: The VATT was a pioneer. Its primary mirror was one of the first large mirrors made using the spin-casting technique at the University of Arizona’s Mirror Lab. This method creates very lightweight and rigid mirrors.
- Location: Mount Graham International Observatory (MGIO) in Arizona, at an elevation of 3,200 meters (10,500 feet). The high, dry desert mountain air provides exceptionally clear skies for viewing.
Why Does the Vatican Have a Telescope?
This question surprises many. The connection between faith and science is actually a long and deep one for the Catholic Church. The Vatican Observatory traces its roots back to 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII used astronomical observations to reform the calendar (creating the Gregorian calendar we use today).
The modern Observatory was re-established by Pope Leo XIII in 1891. His goal was to show the world that “the Church and her Pastors are not opposed to true and solid science.” In other words, the Church supports the honest pursuit of knowledge about the universe. The scientists at the Observatory, many of whom are Jesuit brothers and priests, see their work as understanding the laws of nature that were set in place at creation.
The Move to Arizona
For much of the 20th century, the Observatory was based at the Pope’s summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. However, by the 1980s, light pollution from Rome made serious observing impossible. The Vatican needed a new site with dark skies. After a global search, they partnered with the University of Arizona to build the VATT on Mount Graham, sharing the mountain with other telescopes.
What Do Astronomers Study with the VATT?
The VATT is not just for show. It’s a busy, working scientific instrument. Its exceptional optical quality makes it superb for certain types of research:
- Extra-Solar Planets: Searching for and characterizing planets orbiting other stars.
- Stellar Populations: Studying the age, composition, and motion of stars within our galaxy and in nearby galaxies.
- Active Galactic Nuclei: Observing the supermassive black holes at the centers of distant galaxies.
- Solar System Objects: Tracking asteroids, especially near-Earth objects, to understand their orbits and composition.
The telescope’s design allows it to take very sharp, high-contrast images. This is crucial for picking out faint objects next to bright stars, like planets.
A Tour of the Vatican Observatory’s Other Facilities
While the VATT is the main telescope, the Vatican Observatory has a broader footprint. Understanding its other sites gives a fuller picture.
The Historic Specola Vaticana at Castel Gandolfo
“Specola” simply means “observatory” in Italian. The buildings in Castel Gandolfo house:
- Two Historic Domes: These contain older telescopes, like the double astrograph (used for mapping the sky) from the 1950s. These are no longer used for frontline research due to light pollution but are used for education and history.
- The Vatican Meteorite Collection: One of the world’s major collections of meteorites, used for studying the early solar system.
- An Extensive Library: Over 22,000 volumes on astronomy and astrophysics, including rare books from the 15th and 16th centuries.
- Research Offices: Where scientists analyze data from the VATT and other telescopes around the world.
The Vatican Observatory Research Group in Tucson
Most of the resident astronomers actually live and work in Tucson, Arizona, near the University of Arizona. This allows for close collaboration with university scientists and easy access to the VATT on Mount Graham. This group handles the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the telescope.
How the VATT Was Built: A Story of Collaboration
The creation of the VATT is a great example of international scientific partnership. The Vatican Observatory did not have the resources to build such a advanced instrument alone. Here’s how it came together:
- Vision: The then-director, Father George Coyne, S.J., wanted a modern telescope to continue the Observatory’s scientific work.
- Partnership: They formed a partnership with the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory, which had the mirror-casting technology and mountain site.
- Funding: The funding came largely from private donations to the Vatican Observatory Foundation, not from the Church’s general funds.
- Design & Construction: The telescope was designed by a team at the University of Arizona and built by a consortium of American and Italian companies. The mirror was spin-cast in Tucson, then ground and polished to a precise shape.
This collaborative model continues today, with observing time shared between Vatican astronomers and researchers from the University of Arizona.
Common Misconceptions About the Vatican Telescope
Let’s clear up a few myths you might have heard:
- Myth 1: The Vatican uses it to search for God or angels. Reality: It is used for standard astronomical research, just like any major university telescope. The scientists are professional astronomers publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
- Myth 2: It’s the biggest or most powerful telescope in the world. Reality: At 1.83 meters, it is considered a medium-sized telescope by modern standards. Its strength lies in its exceptional optical quality, not its sheer size.
- Myth 3: Only priests can use it. Reality: The telescope is used by an international team of scientists, including many laypeople, graduate students, and researchers from various institutions.
- Myth 4: Its findings are kept secret. Reality: All scientific data is published openly in journals like the Astrophysical Journal and is available to the global scientific community.
The People Behind the Science: Jesuit Astronomers
The connection between the Jesuit order and astronomy is centuries old. Many directors and staff of the Vatican Observatory have been Jesuits. Why Jesuits? The order has a long tradition of education and scientific inquiry. Famous Jesuit astronomers of the past made major contributions to mapping the stars, studying the sun, and even creating observatories in China.
Today, Jesuit brothers like Brother Guy Consolmagno (the current director) are both religious and accomplished scientists. Brother Guy, for instance, is a planetary scientist who co-authored a leading textbook on meteorites. For these individuals, faith and science are complementary ways of seeking truth.
Can You Visit the Vatican Telescope?
This is a common question for astronomy enthusiasts. The answers depends on which facility you mean:
- VATT on Mount Graham: Public access is extremely limited. The mountain site is a restricted scientific facility and is also home to sensitive ecosystems. Occasional tours may be arranged through the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory, but there is no regular public visiting schedule.
- Castel Gandolfo (Italy): This is much more accessible. The papal gardens and the observatory’s historic buildings are often included on public tours of the Apostolic Palace. You can see the old telescope domes and sometimes the meteorite collection. You should check the official Vatican Museums website for tour availability.
- Public Talks: The Vatican Observatory is very active in public education. They host a “Faith and Science” workshop for teachers, give public lectures, and maintain an engaging website and social media presence.
The Future of the Vatican Observatory
The VATT continues to be upgraded with new, sensitive cameras and spectrographs. The Observatory is also involved in major international projects. For example, they are part of the consortium building the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile, which will be one of the world’s largest when completed. This shows their commitment to staying at the forfront of astronomical research for decades to come.
The core mission remains the same: to conduct credible science and to foster a dialogue between science and religion, showing that they can coexist and enrich each other. The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope is a powerful symbol of that mission.
FAQ Section
What is the Vatican telescope called?
The main telescope is called the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT).
Where is the Vatican telescope located?
The VATT is located at the Mount Graham International Observatory in Arizona, USA. The Vatican Observatory’s headquarters are in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.
Can the public visit the Vatican telescope in Arizona?
Generally, no. The Mount Graham site is a restricted research facility. However, the historic telescopes in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, are sometimes included on public tours.
Why does the Vatican have an observatory?
The Vatican supports astronomical research to participate in scientific discovery and to promote dialogue between science and faith. Its history in calendar reform and science dates back centuries.
How big is the Vatican telescope?
The VATT has a 1.83-meter (72-inch) primary mirror, making it a medium-sized research telescope known for its excellent image quality.
Who uses the Vatican telescope?
It is used by astronomers from the Vatican Observatory Research Group, the University of Arizona, and other collaborating institutions around the world.
What has the Vatican telescope discovered?
Researchers using the VATT have contributed to the study of exoplanets, asteroid composition, stellar evolution, and the properties of distant galaxies. Their findings are published in standard scientific journals.