The Vatican Observatory announced the naming of four asteroids after notable figures in its history on April 29. Among those honored is Pope Leo XIII, who played a pivotal role in re-establishing the Observatory in 1891 following a significant loss of papal territories.
These four asteroids—designated “(858334) Gioacchinopecci,” “(836955) Lais,” “(836275) Pietromaffi,” and “(688696) Bertiau”—were discovered by Lithuanian astronomer Kazimieras Černis in collaboration with Father Richard P. Boyle of the Vatican Observatory, utilizing the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT) located on Mount Graham in Arizona, United States.
The first asteroid, “(858334) Gioacchinopecci,” is named in honor of Pope Leo XIII, whose full name was Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci. He served as Pope from 1878 until his death in 1903. Pope Leo XIII's contributions to the Vatican Observatory were instrumental, particularly his efforts to re-establish it after the loss of the facilities that had been located in the lost papal territories, such as Father Angelo Secchi’s observatory atop the Church of St. Ignatius.
The other asteroids commemorate influential individuals associated with the Vatican Observatory. “(836955) Lais” honors Father Giuseppe Lais, an Italian astronomer who served as Deputy Director for thirty years and contributed to the international “Carte du Ciel” project in the early 20th century. “(836275) Pietromaffi” pays tribute to Cardinal Pietro Maffi, who was the Observatory's President from 1904 until his death in 1931 and advocated for the establishment of the Society of Jesus to ensure the quality of research. The final asteroid, “(688696) Bertiau,” is named after Father Florent Constant Bertiau, who founded the Observatory’s Computer Center in 1965 and made significant advancements in computerized data analysis.
The press release emphasizes that the naming of these asteroids reflects Pope Leo XIII’s vision of integrating faith with scientific pursuit. Through his establishment of the Observatory in 1891, he aimed to promote the Church’s dedication to science amidst various criticisms of its stance. The Observatory continues to operate, and its visible domes atop the Vatican walls exemplify an ongoing commitment to both faith and science.
This announcement is not the first instance of asteroids being named after figures from the Church. Previous examples include “(560974) Ugoboncompagni,” commemorating Pope Gregory XIII, and “(8661) Ratzinger,” named in honor of Pope Benedict XVI for his contributions related to the Vatican archives.
The process by which asteroids receive names involves provisional designations upon discovery, followed by a permanent number once their orbits have been confirmed. Only after this can the discoverers propose official names, which are vetted by the International Astronomical Union's Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature (WGSBN). This meticulous process ensures that the naming of celestial bodies follows a structured and recognized format.