O F F II C IIA L CA LE N DA R OF TH E ATI CA N OBSE RVATORY 2016
Front cover image: Mars, taken by Damian Peach, England. The fourth planet from the sun is named from the Roman god of war. January image: Comet LoveJoy, taken by Vincent Change, China. This comet streaks through the Pleiades as it rounds the sun. January Gennaio Enero Janvier Januar December 2015 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February 2016 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 New Year s Day Perihelion, Earth closest to the Sun 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Quadrantids Meteor Shower Feast of the Epiphany New Moon (18:31 MST) 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Full Moon (18:46 MST) 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, Patron of Catholic schools and scholars. Shuttle Challenger explodes on liftoff, Cmdr. Dick Scobee, 1986
February Febbraio February image: IC405, by Bernard Miller, USA. The Flaming Star Nebula graces the constellation Auriga. Febbero Février Februar January 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 March 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 Space Shuttle Columbia with 7 astronauts lost upon re-entry, 2003 Candlemas Day, Groundhog Day Luna 9 (USSR) lands on the moon and returns first photographs, 1966. Quadrantids Meteor Shower 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Chinese New Year, New Moon (7:40 MST) Ash Wednesday Lincoln s Birthday 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Valentine s Day Galileo, born 1564 Presidents Day (Washington s Birthday) 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Full Moon (11:21 MST) Pope Gregory XIII introduces the new calendar with his Apostolic letter, Inter Gravissimas, 1582 28 29
March Marzo March image: IC2574, by Bernard Miller, USA. Coddingham s Nebula is a dwarf irregular galaxy in the Big Dipper. Marzo Mars M arz February 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 April 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 Pope Leo XIII, founder of the Vatican Observatory, born 1810??5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 OSO 1, first astronomical satellite launched 1962 Jupiter at Opposition (08:03 MST) Total Solar Eclipse (18:57 MST) New Moon (18:56 MST) 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Daylight Savings Time begins Uranus discovered by William Herschel, 1781 Feast of St. Patrick Spring equinox (21:31 MST) 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Palm Sunday, Venus at Aphelion (07:00 MST) Full Moon (5:02 MST) Holy Thursday Good Friday 27 28 29 30 31 Easter Sunday
April Aprill April image: Andromeda Galaxy, M31, by Richard Jacobs, MD, USA. As large as a full moon, this galaxy can be seen with the naked eye from dark skies. Abril Avril April March 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 May 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 April Fool s Day 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mercury at Perihelion (05:10 MST) Compton Gamma Ray Observatory launched, 1991 New Moon (4:25 MST) Uranus in Conjunction with Sun (14:00 MST) 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space, 1961 Eastern Orthodox Easter 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Full Moon (22:25 MST) Passover begins at sunset Lyrids Meteor Shower 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Space Shuttle Discovery launched with Hubble telescope, 1990
May Maggio May image: NGC2070, by Damian Peach, England. The Tarantula Nebula is visible from the southern hemisphere. Mayo Mai Mai April 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 June 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 May Day, a cross quarter day. Orthodox Easter, based on Julian Calendar Eta-Aquarid Meteor Shower (12:00 MST) Cinco de Mayo, Ascension Thursday New Moon (12:31 MST) 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Mother s Day (USA) 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Pentecost Feast of St. Brendan, Patron of navigators who steer by celestial bodies Pioneer 12 launched as first space probe to orbit Venus, 1978 Full Moon (14:17 MST) 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Skylab 2 becomes first station in space, 1973. Weight 19,979 kg. Mars 3 Probe launched; first to soft land on Mars, December 2, 1971 29 30 31 Memorial Day
June Giugno June image: Sun Spots, by Mick Nichols, USA. These centers of magnetic solar activity are well-seen in hydrogen alpha light. Junio Juin Juni May 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 July 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 200 Hale Telescope on Mt. Palomar, CA, dedicated 1948 New Moon (20:02 MST) 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Fr. Francesco Denza, first director of the Vatican Observatory, born 1834. Ramadan starts 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Valentina Tereshkova, first woman in space, Vosok 6, 1962 Sally Ride, first American woman in space aboard Challenger, 1983 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Father s Day Summer Solstice (15:35 MST) Full Moon (4:05 MST) Feast of St. John the Baptist, traditional start of the monsoons in Southern Arizona 26 27 28 29 30 Fr. Angelo Secchi SJ, Father of Astrophysics, born 1818 Largest recorded meteor strikes Siberia, 1908
July Luglio July image: Hubble s Variable Nebula, NGC2261, by Frank Martin, USA. This comet-shaped nebula varies in brightness as the star that lights it dims and brightens. Julio Juillet Juli June 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 August 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 Canada Day 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Independence Day (USA) New Moon (4:03 MST) 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Venous at Perihelion 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Fr. Georges Lemaitre, Father of the Big Bang Theory, born 1834 Full Moon (15:59 MST) Neil Armstrong takes humankind s first steps on the moon, 1969 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower
August Agosto August image: Bode s Galaxy, M81, by Robert Hughs, USA. This galaxy lies 12 million light-years away in the Big Dipper. Agosto Aoüt August July 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 September 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lammas Day, cross quarter day, first wheat harvest New Moon (13:47 MST) 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Feast of St. Dominic, Patron of Astronomers Fr. Kino S.J. early explorer in Arizona and amateur astronomer, born 1645 Perseid Meteor Shower 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Feast of the Assumption Mercury at Aphelion (09:00 MST) Full Moon (2:30 MST) 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Mariner 2, first inter-planetary probe, launched, 1962
September Settembre September image: VdB16, by Giovanni Benintende, Sicily. Dark clouds of dust lace this reflection nebula. Septiembre Septembre September August 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 October 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 New Moon (2:05 MST) Neptune at Opposition (08:00 MST) 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Labor Day (USA) 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Day of Heroes, when ordinary people performed extra-ordinary deeds Full Moon (12:08 MST) 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Dedication of Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT), 1993 Autumnal Equinox (07:21 MST) Galle and d Arrest discover Neptune, 1846 25 26 27 28 29 30 Mercury at Perihelion (08:00 MST) New Moon (17:13 MST)
October Ottobre October image: Rising Moon, by Anthony Ayiomamitis, Greece. Moon Rising Over Lycabettus in Greece. Octubre Octobre Oktober September 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 November 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rosh Hashana begins at sunset Feast of St. Francis Assisi, Patron of Italy 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Leif Erikson day Columbus Day Yom Kippur begins at sunset Full Moon (21:25 MST) 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Orionid Meteor Shower 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 New Moon (10:40 MST) 30 31 Conjunction Halloween, of Venus a cross and quarter Jupiter day John Glenn at age 77 returns to space, 1998
November Novembre November image: IC5148, by Damian Peach, England. The Spare Tire Nebula, in the constellation Grus, is the remnant of a dying star. Noviembre Novembre November October 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 All Saints Day All Souls Day Taurids Meteor Shower 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Daylight Savings Time ends Election Day Veterans Day 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Full Moon (6:53 MST) Feast of St. Albert the Great, Patron of Scientists, born 1206 Leonids Meteor Shower 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Thanksgiving Day New Moon (5:19 MST)
December Dicembre December image: Leo Trio of Galaxies, by Jon Christensen, USA. This galaxy triplet lies 35 million light years away in the constellation Leo. Diciembre Decembre Dezember November 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 January 2017 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Feast of St. Nicholas Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Feast of the Immaculate Conception 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast of St. Lucia (Sweden), festival of light Geminid Meteor Shower Full Moon (2:30 MST) Russia launches Vega 1 to study Halley s Comet, 1984 First Day of Chanukka 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Winter Solstice (03:45 MST) Hanukkah begins at sunset 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Christmas Day New Moon (23:54 MST) New Year s Eve
January Gennaio January 2017 image: Horsehead Nebula, Bernard 33, by Richard Jacobs, MD, USA. Near Orion s Belt, installer dust carve a horse s head from star light. 2 0 1 7 Enero Janvier Januar December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February 2017 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 New Year s Day Feast of the Epiphany Orthodox Christmas 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Full Moon (4:35 MST) Orthodox New Year 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 New Moon (17:08 MST) 29 30 31
OF F I C I A L CA LE N D A R OF TH E January February ATI CA N OBSERVATORY 2016 March May July April June August A few years ago, a couple of cosmologists who styled themselves as atheists attempted to show that there was no need for God to start the universe, at the moment popularly known as the Big Bang. They proposed that a quantum fluctuation in the zero-energy vacuum field of the nothingness that presumably existed before the Bang occurred could have given rise to our existence. Their argument, while certain having scientific merit, would have failed any Philosophy 101 class. After all, if one defines God as that which started the Big Bang and then you define quantum fluctuations as the cause of the Bang, then logically you haven t disproved God; you ve proved that God exists, as a quantum fluctuation whatever they mean by that! But more seriously, as the late Fr. Bill Stoeger explained in a chapter of our 2009 book, The Heavens Proclaim, the argument fails on a more fundamental level. Creation out of nothing is not the same as creation in a vacuum since even a vacuum is not nothing. As the cosmologists themselves concede, the primordial vacuum contains a zero-point energy; it also contains space, and time, and the laws of physics that allow it to fluctuate or not. Furthermore, God s creation is not something that happened at one time in the distant past. Rather, since God is outside of time, God s creation occurs continually at all times. From our point of view, every moment, every second, every nanosecond, God is creating. God maintains the existence of the Universe. The famous philosopher Wittgenstein pointed out that nothing can find meaning within itself; only a super-natural God, standing outside of nature, can cause nature to exist and give it meaning. God is not a being; God is Being. But we Christians realize that God is more than the author of the Big Bang. God so loved this creation that He sent His only Son to become a part of it. In the Incarnation, as St. Athanasius wrote more than 1500 years ago, the universe became cleansed and quickened. Thus to study God s creation, as we do at the Vatican Observatory, is an act of worship both to God who Created and to God who chose to become part of that creation. Our science reveals a creation that is orderly, understandable, yet infinitely surprising. These features clearly echo the attributes of its Creator. But even more, as the images of these calendars reveal year by year, our science reveals a creation that is also remarkably beautiful. You can join us in learning where to find this beauty, and help us bring it to our fellow humans, God's creations, by joining our work as a member of the Vatican Observatory Foundation. Learn more at our web site, and join in the conversation at The Catholic Astronomer: www.vofoundation.org/blog September October November December Father José Funes, S.J., Director of the Vatican Observatory Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J., President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation Vatican Observatory Foundation 2017 East Lee Street Tucson, Arizona 85719 USA http://vaticanobservatory.org http://www.vofoundation.org