Br. Robert Macke SJ
@brbobmackesj.bsky.social
Planetary Scientist/Maker/Meteorite Curator at Vatican Observatory
DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily represent the Vatican Observatory, the Jesuits, the Vatican, or the Catholic Church.
DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily represent the Vatican Observatory, the Jesuits, the Vatican, or the Catholic Church.
Tell me five classes you took in college:
(Im sticking to undergraduate only. The 3 masters and PhD don’t count)
Writing science fiction (w/ Joe Haldeman)
Intro to music theory
Philosophy of language
General Relativity
Organic chemistry
(Im sticking to undergraduate only. The 3 masters and PhD don’t count)
Writing science fiction (w/ Joe Haldeman)
Intro to music theory
Philosophy of language
General Relativity
Organic chemistry
Tell me five classes you took in college:
Human biology and behavior
Philosophy of quantum mechanics
Arthurian romances
Advanced functional analysis
History of jazz
I was a physics major
Human biology and behavior
Philosophy of quantum mechanics
Arthurian romances
Advanced functional analysis
History of jazz
I was a physics major
Tell me five classes you took in college:
Cold War US Foreign Policy
Four Modern Revolutions
The Cryosphere
Antarctic Marine Geology
History of 20th Century Science
Cold War US Foreign Policy
Four Modern Revolutions
The Cryosphere
Antarctic Marine Geology
History of 20th Century Science
January 31, 2026 at 6:24 AM
Tell me five classes you took in college:
(Im sticking to undergraduate only. The 3 masters and PhD don’t count)
Writing science fiction (w/ Joe Haldeman)
Intro to music theory
Philosophy of language
General Relativity
Organic chemistry
(Im sticking to undergraduate only. The 3 masters and PhD don’t count)
Writing science fiction (w/ Joe Haldeman)
Intro to music theory
Philosophy of language
General Relativity
Organic chemistry
Reposted by Br. Robert Macke SJ
VOF newsletter - 2026-01-28 - Summer School Payoff
Br, Guy talks about his friend, Dr. Ray Jayawardhana, alumnus of the 1993 Vatican Observatory Summer School, who will become the tenth president of Caltech.
mailchi.mp/vaticanobser...
Image credit: Anna Marlis Burgard
Br, Guy talks about his friend, Dr. Ray Jayawardhana, alumnus of the 1993 Vatican Observatory Summer School, who will become the tenth president of Caltech.
mailchi.mp/vaticanobser...
Image credit: Anna Marlis Burgard
January 29, 2026 at 4:22 PM
VOF newsletter - 2026-01-28 - Summer School Payoff
Br, Guy talks about his friend, Dr. Ray Jayawardhana, alumnus of the 1993 Vatican Observatory Summer School, who will become the tenth president of Caltech.
mailchi.mp/vaticanobser...
Image credit: Anna Marlis Burgard
Br, Guy talks about his friend, Dr. Ray Jayawardhana, alumnus of the 1993 Vatican Observatory Summer School, who will become the tenth president of Caltech.
mailchi.mp/vaticanobser...
Image credit: Anna Marlis Burgard
Today included a very nice visit to the analytical laboratories of the Vatican Museums. Quite impressive.
January 28, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Today included a very nice visit to the analytical laboratories of the Vatican Museums. Quite impressive.
Slightly diminish a band:
They Might Be Of Average Stature
They Might Be Of Average Stature
Slightly diminish a band:
Fairport Tag-up
Fairport Tag-up
Slightly diminish a band:
And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Complaints
And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Complaints
January 10, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Slightly diminish a band:
They Might Be Of Average Stature
They Might Be Of Average Stature
Not a comet. Just plane lights scattering weirdly under just the right conditions
January 3, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Not a comet. Just plane lights scattering weirdly under just the right conditions
I once attended a private musical performance, sitting literally two rows right behind Pope Benedict.
Please quote this from the time you didn't interact with someone famous.
I was visiting with family in New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the same time that Mother Theresa was there visiting her Missionaries of Charity. The bishop held a Mass for her at the church where I was baptized. I didn't go.
I was visiting with family in New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the same time that Mother Theresa was there visiting her Missionaries of Charity. The bishop held a Mass for her at the church where I was baptized. I didn't go.
Catching a train from Bristol Temple Meads, but they shifted the service along the platform because a scene from THE OUTLAWS was being shot where it would usually come in. The scene featured Christopher Walken and Stephen Merchant, but my train came before they shot it so I didn't see either of 'em.
December 30, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I once attended a private musical performance, sitting literally two rows right behind Pope Benedict.
About two decades ago I was supposed to be interviewed by Morgan Freeman for his show The Story of God, but there was a bad storm that day and he couldn't make it. He interviewed a backup option instead.
Please quote this from the time you didn't interact with someone famous.
I was visiting with family in New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the same time that Mother Theresa was there visiting her Missionaries of Charity. The bishop held a Mass for her at the church where I was baptized. I didn't go.
I was visiting with family in New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the same time that Mother Theresa was there visiting her Missionaries of Charity. The bishop held a Mass for her at the church where I was baptized. I didn't go.
Catching a train from Bristol Temple Meads, but they shifted the service along the platform because a scene from THE OUTLAWS was being shot where it would usually come in. The scene featured Christopher Walken and Stephen Merchant, but my train came before they shot it so I didn't see either of 'em.
December 30, 2025 at 4:46 PM
About two decades ago I was supposed to be interviewed by Morgan Freeman for his show The Story of God, but there was a bad storm that day and he couldn't make it. He interviewed a backup option instead.
Ate at a restaurant I haven't been to in quite some time (half a year or more). The waitress started writing down my order before I even said anything. Am I predictable or what?
October 18, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Ate at a restaurant I haven't been to in quite some time (half a year or more). The waitress started writing down my order before I even said anything. Am I predictable or what?
Reposted by Br. Robert Macke SJ
#PPOD: The official names of asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson’s surface features — as identified by the Southwest Research Institute-led Lucy Mission — have been approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Credit: NASA/SwRI/Goddard/JHUAPL 🧪 🔭
October 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
#PPOD: The official names of asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson’s surface features — as identified by the Southwest Research Institute-led Lucy Mission — have been approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Credit: NASA/SwRI/Goddard/JHUAPL 🧪 🔭
Temporal context can affect interpretation of literature. Take for example William Gibson’s Neuromancer (1984): “The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.”
October 3, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Temporal context can affect interpretation of literature. Take for example William Gibson’s Neuromancer (1984): “The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.”
Reposted by Br. Robert Macke SJ
Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno is retiring after 10 years as director of the Vatican Observatory. He leaves a legacy of bridging faith and science, teaching that humility and collaboration are key to discovery. Thank you, Brother Guy!
www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus...
www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus...
Five lessons learned as director of the Vatican Observatory
After a delightful 10 years in the post, Sept. 19 is my official retirement date as the director of the Vatican. As I depart, I thought I would pass along a few words of advice based on my experience.
www.americamagazine.org
September 17, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno is retiring after 10 years as director of the Vatican Observatory. He leaves a legacy of bridging faith and science, teaching that humility and collaboration are key to discovery. Thank you, Brother Guy!
www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus...
www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus...
New toy (um, I mean valuable scientific instrument) in the lab.
September 13, 2025 at 1:22 PM
New toy (um, I mean valuable scientific instrument) in the lab.
Totally didn't expect to take this photo today.
September 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Totally didn't expect to take this photo today.
I watch a fair amount of YouTube and so get inundated with YouTube ads. Today I just got an ad for the meteorites at the natural history museum at Abu Dhabi. Ludovic Ferriere, this is your fault! :)
July 31, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I watch a fair amount of YouTube and so get inundated with YouTube ads. Today I just got an ad for the meteorites at the natural history museum at Abu Dhabi. Ludovic Ferriere, this is your fault! :)
Vatican News has published this so I guess now I can share.
www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-c...
www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-c...
Fr Richard D‘Souza S.J. is new Director of Vatican Observatory - Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV appoints Fr Richard Anthony D’Souza, S.J., as Director of the Vatican Observatory. The astronomist succeeds Br Guy Consolmagno, S.J, ...
www.vaticannews.va
July 31, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Vatican News has published this so I guess now I can share.
www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-c...
www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-c...
Reposted by Br. Robert Macke SJ
In its current issue, the NEW YORKER profiles the Director of the Vatican Observatory, Brother Guy Consolmagno.
Quoted: sage editor @pnh.nielsenhayden.com.
Mentioned: Emperor Domitian, @brbobmackesj.bsky.social, various Popes.
🔭🧪
Quoted: sage editor @pnh.nielsenhayden.com.
Mentioned: Emperor Domitian, @brbobmackesj.bsky.social, various Popes.
🔭🧪
Rebecca Mead visits the Vatican Observatory and spends time with the Pope’s astronomer, Guy Consolmagno, who oversees a team of scientists employed by the Holy See.
The Vatican Observatory Looks to the Heavens
It’s run by a Michigan-born Jesuit—and a meteorite expert—known as the Pope’s Astronomer.
www.newyorker.com
July 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
In its current issue, the NEW YORKER profiles the Director of the Vatican Observatory, Brother Guy Consolmagno.
Quoted: sage editor @pnh.nielsenhayden.com.
Mentioned: Emperor Domitian, @brbobmackesj.bsky.social, various Popes.
🔭🧪
Quoted: sage editor @pnh.nielsenhayden.com.
Mentioned: Emperor Domitian, @brbobmackesj.bsky.social, various Popes.
🔭🧪
Hello, I'm a scientist in a film. I will run one lab test, the results of which immediately appear in full 3D on my holographic display (complete with sound effects). I will take one glance at it and make a groundbreaking discovery. All before coffee.
Hello, I'm an author in a film. I will be seen doing anything but writing a book, because typing is boring. Then I will have a 30-second montage of clicking away at a keyboard, I will hand a ream of paper to my editor who will declare it to be genius and a week later I will be atop the NYT list.
Hello, I'm an attorney in a film. I have a pure and perfect knowledge of every area of practice in every jurisdiction. Nevertheless, I will be corrected by a plucky law school grad who just passed the bar. After some stubborn resistance, I will silently nod and take her under my wing.
July 29, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Hello, I'm a scientist in a film. I will run one lab test, the results of which immediately appear in full 3D on my holographic display (complete with sound effects). I will take one glance at it and make a groundbreaking discovery. All before coffee.
Another interesting find in the Specola guestbook.
July 26, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Another interesting find in the Specola guestbook.
View from my front door this morning
July 20, 2025 at 9:37 AM
View from my front door this morning
“Keyboard missing. Press any key to continue.”
I know I put the keyboard here somewhere…
I know I put the keyboard here somewhere…
July 16, 2025 at 9:30 AM
“Keyboard missing. Press any key to continue.”
I know I put the keyboard here somewhere…
I know I put the keyboard here somewhere…
Reposted by Br. Robert Macke SJ
Today CBS SUNDAY MORNING ran a 5-minute story on the Vatican Observatory, highlighting the astrophysics Summer School at @specola.bsky.social, the old telescopes, and the meteorite collection.
Interviewees: @specolations.bsky.social & @brbobmackesj.bsky.social.
(Clip below has obligatory ads.)
Interviewees: @specolations.bsky.social & @brbobmackesj.bsky.social.
(Clip below has obligatory ads.)
Scanning the heavens at the Vatican Observatory
Perched in the hills outside Rome sits the Palace of Castel Gandolfo, the centuries-old lakeside summer home for popes, which is also home to the Vatican Observatory, established in 1891 to help bridg...
www.cbsnews.com
June 29, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Today CBS SUNDAY MORNING ran a 5-minute story on the Vatican Observatory, highlighting the astrophysics Summer School at @specola.bsky.social, the old telescopes, and the meteorite collection.
Interviewees: @specolations.bsky.social & @brbobmackesj.bsky.social.
(Clip below has obligatory ads.)
Interviewees: @specolations.bsky.social & @brbobmackesj.bsky.social.
(Clip below has obligatory ads.)
VOSS visitors today included Sr. Raffaella Petrini FSE (President of the Vatican Governatorate), Fr. General Arturo Sosa SJ (General Superior of the Society of Jesus), Vatican Secretary General Giuseppe Pugliesi-Alibrandi, Fr. Delegate Johann Verschueren SJ* and Fr. Socius Gian-Giacomo Rotelli SJ*
June 25, 2025 at 1:57 PM
VOSS visitors today included Sr. Raffaella Petrini FSE (President of the Vatican Governatorate), Fr. General Arturo Sosa SJ (General Superior of the Society of Jesus), Vatican Secretary General Giuseppe Pugliesi-Alibrandi, Fr. Delegate Johann Verschueren SJ* and Fr. Socius Gian-Giacomo Rotelli SJ*