Where is the Vatican Observatory located?

The Vatican Observatory (Italian: Specola Vaticana) is an astronomical research and educational institution supported by the Holy See. Originally based in the Roman College of Rome, the Observatory is now headquartered in Castel Gandolfo, Italy and operates a telescope at the Mount Graham International Observatory in the United States.

How long did the Vatican Observatory last?

The new Vatican Observatory remained there for the next forty years. In the late nineteenth-century the Vatican Observatory was part of a group of top astronomy institutions from around the world which worked together to create a photographic "Celestial Map" ("Carte du Ciel") and an "astrographic" catalog pinpointing the stars' positions.

How many meteorological stations are there on Earth?

The backbone of the surface-based sub-system continues to be about 11,000 stations (see list in OSCAR/Surface) on land making observations at or near the Earth’s surface, at least every three hours and often hourly, of meteorological parameters such as atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, air temperature and relative humidity.

What is included in a Vatican astronomy tour?

Tours will include access to two historic telescopes, a display of antique and contemporary astronomical equipment, a presentation of astronomically themed artwork, and other special exhibits. Visitors will be guided by docents knowledgeable in astronomy who have been selected and trained by the scholars of the Vatican Observatory.