The Vatican Observatory, Castel Gandolfo: 80th Anniversary Celebration / edited by Gabriele Gionti, S. J., Jean-Baptiste Kikwaya Eluo, S.J.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Gionti, S. J., Gabriele., Editor.

Kikwaya Eluo, S.J., Jean-Baptiste., Editor.

Series:

Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, 1570-6591 ; 51

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astronomy--Observations.

Astronomy.

Astronomy—Observations.

Cosmology.

Gravitation.

History.

Philosophy and science.

Religion—Philosophy.

Astronomy, Observations and Techniques.

Classical and Quantum Gravitation, Relativity Theory.

History of Science.

Philosophy of Science.

Philosophy of Religion.

Local Subjects:

Astronomy, Observations and Techniques.

Cosmology.

Classical and Quantum Gravitation, Relativity Theory.

History of Science.

Philosophy of Science.

Philosophy of Religion.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (XVI, 265 p. 103 illus., 66 illus. in color.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2018.

Place of Publication:

Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Springer, 2018.

Summary:

This book presents contributions from an internal symposium organized to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Specola Vaticana, or Vatican Observatory, in the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo. The aim is to provide an overview of the scientific and cultural work being undertaken at the Observatory today and to describe the outcomes of important recent investigations. The contents cover interesting topics in a variety of areas, including planetary science and instrumentation, stellar evolution and stars, galaxies, cosmology, quantum gravity, the history of astronomy, and interactions between science, philosophy, and theology. On September 29, 1935, Pope Pius XI officially inaugurated the new headquarters of the Specola Vaticana at Castel Gandolfo. With new telescopes, a new astrophysical laboratory for spectrochemical analysis, and a young staff comprising Jesuit scientists, this inauguration marked the beginning of an intense period of scientific achievements at the Observatory. This anniversary book, featuring contributions from members of the current Observatory staff and adjunct scholars, will appeal to all with an interest in the history of the Specola Vaticana and its significance for astronomy.

Contents:

Pictures of the two Stamps for the 80th Anniversary Symposium

Pope’s address at the Papal Audience

Preface

Introduction

Planetary Science

1) 108 years of Meteorites at the Vatican Observatory (Robert Macke)

2) Physical characterization of fast rotator NEOs (Jean-Baptiste Kikwaya Eluo).- Stellar evolution and Stars.- 3) The Enigmatic Lambda Boötis Stars (Chris Corbally)

4) A New near infrared survey of the inner regions of the Milky Way (Dante Minniti)

5) Some Recent Investigations in Stellar Evolution at the Specola Vaticana (David Brown)

6) The Vilnius Photometry System at the Vatican Observatory (Robert Janusz, and Richard Boyle).- Galaxies.- 7) WINGS, a wide field nearby galaxy cluster survey: some results (Alessandro Omizzolo)

8) The Stellar Haloes of Galaxies (Richard De Souza).- Cosmology.- 9) A String Theory Based f(R)-Gravity with Duality Transformations (Gabriele Gionti)

10) Creation of Matter in a Noncommutativ e Universe (Michael Heller)

11) Testing new physics with polarized light: cosmic bire-fringence (Matteo Galaverni).- Education and Outreach.- 12) Some Rules for interacting with Journalists (Guy Consolamagno)

History of Astronomy

13) The Rome historical Cauchoix telescope recovered (Aldo Altamore)

14) Stellar Populations: The Vatican Meeting in 1957 (Jose Funes)

15 The Leap Second Debate and the Lessons from Lessons from Timekeeping History (Paul Gabor)

16) A Short History of the Vatican Observatory (Ileana Chinnici)

Science-Philosophy-Theology.- 17) Some reflections on the Influence and Role of Scientific Thought in the Context of the New Evangelization (G. Tanzella-Nitti)

18) The philosophy of expertise: the case of Vatican astronomers (Louis Caruana)

19) Furnishing Creation (Paul Mueller).- Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters.

ISBN:

3-319-67205-3