Astronomers flock to Vatican observatory to see Venus pass across sun

Published: 2004-06-09

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- More than 100 astronomy buffs hauled telescopes, cameras and computers from every corner of the United States to Castel Gandolfo, home of the Vatican observatory located at the pope's summer residence. They came June 8 to catch a glimpse of Venus' passage between the Earth and the sun, a rare planetary alignment that last happened 122 years ago. The phenomenon is known as the transit of Venus. Vatican astronomer U.S. Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno said that "there is something sublime about seeing something as big as the sun get nibbled away" on one side as Venus approaches and becomes a black spot that slowly moves across the sun's face to the other side. Journalists at the U.S. astronomy magazine Sky and Telescope had organized the planet-watch at Castel Gandolfo after asking Vatican astronomers if they could bring a group to the observatory rooftop for the viewing. Because the sun was not up in time for the entire event in the United States and Canada, hard-core enthusiasts had to travel abroad in order to see the event firsthand.

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