Vatican astronomers to move to bigger, more modern facilities

Published: 2007-12-21

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- After more than half a century based at the papal palace in Castel Gandolfo, the Vatican's astronomers will be moving to bigger, more modern facilities. The astronomers' new offices and residences still will be located on the grounds of the papal summer residence in the hill town of Castel Gandolfo, about 15 miles south of Rome, but they will be in a completely renovated convent nestled in the papal gardens. "This is going to be a great improvement" for carrying out the astronomers' work and studies and the new residences "will be a whole lot more comfortable," said U.S. Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno. Work has not yet begun on the new headquarters, so the relocation is not likely to occur before next fall, he said. While the papal palace, where the observatory and two powerful telescopes are located, is "a beautiful, historical building" dating back to the 1500s, "it's also freezing in the wintertime and too hot in the summer," the Vatican astronomer told Catholic News Service Dec. 21.

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