Vatican Observatory has asteroid named after Pope Leo XIII

Key Points:

• The Vatican Observatory announced the naming of four asteroids after key figures in its history, including Pope Leo XIII, who re-founded the Observatory in 1891, with discoveries made using the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope in Arizona.
• The asteroid (858334) Gioacchinopecci honors Pope Leo XIII, recognizing his role in re-establishing the Vatican Observatory after the loss of papal territories and promoting the Church’s support for scientific research.
• Additional asteroids commemorate important Church figures tied to the Observatory, such as Father Giuseppe Lais, Cardinal Pietro Maffi, and Father Florent Constant Bertiau, highlighting their contributions to astronomy and the institution’s development.
• The Vatican Observatory emphasizes its mission to demonstrate the compatibility of faith and science, continuing Pope Leo XIII’s vision to embrace and promote scientific inquiry within the Church.
• The naming process involves assigning provisional designations upon discovery, followed by permanent numbering once orbits are confirmed, with final names approved by the International Astronomical Union’s Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature.