New Asteroids Named After Jesuits of the Vatican Observatory

The second bulletin of this year from the Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature of the IAU (International Astronomical Union) announced that additional asteroids have been named after Jesuit scientists of the Vatican Observatory. Several asteroids, co-discovered by Vatican astronomer Fr. Richard P. Boyle, SJ, together with his long-time collaborator K. Černis (of Vilnius, Lithuania), using the Vatican Observatory’s VATT telescope on Mount Graham, have received official designations.

Among the names assigned is that of Fr. David Brown, SJ, currently a member of the Observatory staff. Other asteroids discovered at the Vatican Observatory by Černis and Boyle have been dedicated to Jesuits who served at the Observatory, including the former director, Fr. Daniel O’Connell, SJ.

Below is the list of the most recently named asteroids:

(747532) Davidabrown = 2012 VA115

Discovery: 2012-11-14 / K. Černis, R.P. Boyle / Mount Graham / 290

David A. Brown (born 1967) is an American Jesuit priest. His research focuses on stellar evolution, primarily conducting theoretical work through complex computer simulations. Brown is also deeply engaged in science communication, delivering lectures on topics such as “Vatican Astronomy” and the “Compatibility between Science and Religion.”

(780137) Gatterer = 2012 HK91

Discovery: 2012-04-16 / K. Černis, R.P. Boyle / Mount Graham / 290

Alois Gatterer, S.J. (1886–1953), an Austrian Jesuit, founded and directed the Astrophysical Laboratory of the Vatican Observatory from 1933 to 1953. An expert in spectroscopy, he produced major spectral atlases and founded the journal  “Spectrochimica Acta” in 1939.

(811540) Ernstsalpeter = 2023 WA29

Discovery: 2014-11-18 / K. Černis, R.P. Boyle / Mount Graham / 290

Ernst Salpeter, S.J. (1912–1976), an Austrian Jesuit, served at the Vatican Observatory beginning in 1948. A specialist in spectroscopy, he contributed to the production of highly influential spectral atlases and pioneered effective line-width photometry. He also oversaw the meteorite collection.

(836112) Danieloconnell = 2012 DK85

Discovery: 2012-02-25 / K. Černis, R.P. Boyle / Mount Graham / 290

Daniel Joseph O’Connell, S.J. (1896–1982), a British Jesuit astronomer, served as Director of the Vatican Observatory (1952–1970) and President of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (1968–1972). He specialized in the study of eclipsing binary stars and is known for discovering the so-called “O’Connell Effect.” He also studied the “green flash” phenomenon.