Lordan has masters degrees in education and political science and is a former assistant international editor of catholic news service. Brother astronomer, adventures of a vatican scientist, by brother guy consolmagno sj, mcgrawhill, 2000. Not quite true, argues jesuit brother guy consolmagno in his moving and intellectually playful memoir of a life lived in the active interplay of science and religion. This book was written by a vatican astronomer and tells about his. Brother astronomer is a interesting book, written on many levels. At massachusetts institute of technology he studied planetary science, received his bachelors and masters degrees before moving to the university of arizona to earn his phd. See his article astronomy, god, and the search for elegance, a piece about the place of faith in science, which concludes. He created a space where we were all free to pursue that science, br. Praise who knew that the vatican owned an observatory run by jesuit scientists. He entered the jesuit order in 1991 and was assigned to the vatican observatory in 1993. Brother consolmagno has held visiting faculty positions at four jesuit universities including loyola, and he served as a visiting scientist at the goddard space flight center. Vatican astronomers book uses humor to explore faith, science.
Brother guy consolmagno sj is director of the the vatican observatory and president of the vatican observatory foundation. Brother guy consolmagno is the first clergyman to win the prestigious carl sagan medal. As a jesuit brother, guy has become the voice of the juxtaposition of planetary science and astronomy. New york rns with christmas just around the corner, brother guy consolmagno gets a lot of questions this time of year about the star of bethlehem that led the magi to jesus in the manger. Adventures of a vatican scientist consolmagno, guy on. Jesuit brother is new director of the vatican observatory. Publishers weekly jesuit brother guy consolmagnos moving and intellectually playful. He begins with a fascinating insiders tale of what life there is. Jesuit brother guy consolmagno, the vatican observatorys current director, recalled the first words from fr. Brother guy is a popular writer as well as a working astronomer. Guy consolmagno, jesuit brother, wins carl sagan medal for.
We revisit my conversation with them, filled with joy and laughter, and we reexperience the spacious way the two of. Brother guy consolmagno, an astronomer and head of the vatican observatory foundation and coauthor with another jesuit of a new book, would you baptize an extraterrestrial. Consolmagno, sj, is an american research astronomer, physicist, jesuit religious brother, director of the vatican observatory, and president of the vatican observatory foundation. As it happens, though, brother guy consolmagno is talking about his job, rather than the chances of earth being hit by a meteorite. Jesuit brother guy consolmagno has penned his response to what he says are questions he gets from the public all the time when he gives talks on his work with the vatican observatory. Guy consolmagno, discusses what the wise men saw, how to deflect an asteroid, and why science and faith are more.
Jesuit astronomer wins carl sagan award, shocks npr. Brother guy consolmagno, sj was born in detroit, michigan, earned undergraduate and masters degrees in earth and planetary sciences from mit in 1974 and 1975, and a ph. The award was made by the american astronomical societys aas division for planetary sciences, which described him as the voice of the juxtaposition of planetary science and. Brother guy draws the reader into his own story, and the new world that he found as a jesuit brother at castel gondolfo, which is both the popes summer palace and the headquarters of the vatican observatory. In the alban hills south of rome, there is a jesuit who is an astronomer. George coyne and guy consolmagno asteroids, stars, and the. Jesuit brother guy consolmagno wins carl sagan medal from the american astronomical society july 14, 2014 because of his unique perspective as both a scientist and a man of faith, jesuit brother guy consolmagno has been awarded the carl sagan medal from the american astronomical society aas. The 60 year old jesuit astronomer has also been instrumental in helping to build a bridge between science and god, and refreshingly has no compunctions in explaining that science is. Brother guy consolmagno, popes astronomer, says he would. Brother guy consolmagno, sj, is the director of the vatican observatory and president of the vatican observatory foundation.
About the author 2000 brother guy consolmagno is an astronomer at the vatican observatory. Guy consolmagno was born in detroit, michigan, in 1952, where he attended a jesuit high school. As brother consolmagno once replied to a group of eager journalists looking for something to print, he retells us in the book that, speaking purely on unofficial terms, only if she asks. Play unedited father george coyne and brother guy consolmagno. Guy consolmagno sj is a jesuit brother and vatican astronomer. Jesuit astronomer, brother guy consolmagno sj, has been awarded the prestigious carl sagan medal for outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist. Vatican astronomer guy consolmagno is a jesuit brotherwith advanced degrees from mit and the university of arizona. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow and lecturer at harvard universitys department of astronomy, and mits department of earth and. He gave the jcc a lengthy interview on a recent visit to ireland just after the election of pope francis.
Father george was one of the few with this distinction, alongside his friend, the jesuit vatican astronomer brother guy consalmagno. Consolmagno attended our lady queen of martyrs and university of detroit jesuit high school. Brother guy consolmagno, jesuit and astronomer at the vatican observatory, discussed the big bang origin of the universe and the question of extraterrestrial life, as well as his research into how scientists, engineers and other techie types practice religion. In this short clip he talks about the first jesuit pope. He has degrees from mit and the university of arizona. Brother guy consolmagno, popes astronomer, says he would baptize an alien. News detail jesuit brother guy consolmagno wins carl. As a jesuit, ive taken a vow of obedience, he says.
The triumph of this book is its persuasive argument that doing science can be a. Marks college in partnership with ubcs department of physics and astronomy. Consolmagno for his diverse methods of reaching the public and for his achievements, including his numerous books and speaking engagements in both europe and the united states, including his commencement address to the class of 2014 at. Guy consolmagno, a jesuit brother, renowned astronomer, and director of the vaticans astronomical observatory.
Through the britishbased catholic truth society uk, u. George coyne and guy consolmagno asteroids, stars, and. Of the popes sevenman team of research astronomers, brother guy consolmagno. The award is named after the late astronomer carl sagan, who was a popular author and writer of the 1980 television series cosmos. On september 18, 2015, brother guy consolmagno sj has become the new director of the vatican observatory. A highly respected planetary scientist whose research focuses on meteorites, asteroids, and dwarf planets, consolmagno is the author or coauthor. Consolmagno, an astronomer who studied at mit, and mueller, with a doctorate in the history and philosophy of science from the university of chicago, are brilliant scientists and theologians, and they both possess a slightly irreverent and refreshing sense of humor. Astronomy was one of the core subjects along with arithmetic, geometry, and music in the great medieval universities, taught by the jesuits. A native of detroit, michigan, he earned undergraduate and masters degrees from mit, and a ph. We revisit my conversation with them, filled with joy and laughter, and we reexperience the spacious way the two of them thought together about life, faith, and the universe. Vatican astronomer guy consolmagno tells local students. The vaticans astronomer on god and the stars the popes chief stargazer, br. In this picture made available friday, april 15, 2011, brother guy consolmagno, a jesuit astronomer at the vaticans observatory, right, shows to visitors the globe of planet mars igenborg bruhn, denmark, after 1914 from the collection of the specola vaticana during an exhibition celebrating the 400th anniversary of demonstration of galileos telescope on the gianicolo hill, at romes.
Blending memoir, science, history and theology, guy consolmagno. Vancouver artist colleen mclaughlin barlow was given a tour of the vaticans centre for astronomy by consolmagno this spring. Consolmagno, sj born september 19, 1952, is an american research astronomer, physicist, jesuit religious brother, director of the vatican. Brother guy consolmagno sj director of the vatican observatory. He serves as curator of the vaticans meteorite collection in castel. Jesuit brother guy consolmagno has been named the new director of the vatican observatory.
The society noted at the time that his book, with the catchy title turn left at orion, had made an enormous impact on the astronomical community, engendering public support for astronomy. He is the author or coauthor of four books exploring faith and science issues, and he has coauthored two astronomy books. Michiganbred vatican astronomer and jesuit brother guy consolmagno will become the first clergyman awarded one of planetary sciences most prestigious awards, when on thursday in arizona he receives the carl sagan medal. Jesuit brother and working astronomer guy consolmagno considers himself to be. Jesuit brother guy consolmagno wins carl sagan medal from. Meet the popes astronomer, who says hed baptize an alien.
He took vows as a jesuit brother in 1991, and studied philosophy and theology at. Access brother consolmagno s astronomy classes for catholic schools through the jesuit virtual learning academy. A native of detroit, michigan, brother consolmagno graduated from u of d jesuit high school, earned undergraduate and masters degrees from mit, and a ph. Consolmagnos book is an uneven mix of memoir, science, and religion. Guy consolmagno holds two degrees in earth and planetary sciences from the massachusetts institute of technology, and he wears a clerical collarproof, he says, that its possible to be a fanatic and a nerd at the same time. Brother guy consolmagno, sj will speak on the topic why do we look up at the heavens. Meeting brother guy consolmagno, jesuit astronomer. Brother guy consolmagno, who went to ud jesuit and queen of martyrs, lunched friday with pope about new job. World leading astronomer, researcher, author, ted talks and american university circuit speaker is visiting new zealand to discuss his vision of god and our universe. In brother astronomer, consolmagno tells the story of his life as a papal. Read brother guy consolmagno s book coauthored with jesuit father paul mueller would you baptize an extraterrestrial. A highly respected planetary scientist whose research focuses on meteorites, asteroids, and dwarf planets, consolmagno is the author or coauthor of numerous books and publications, including brother astronomerand turn left at orion. Consolmagno, guy ever since galileo was forced to recant his proofs of a suncentered solar system, the roman catholic church has been considered hostile toward science.