The International Astronomical Union's recent decision to name asteroids after Jesuits Gonzalo Palacios de Borao and Maciej Kazimierz Sarbievius underscores the global recognition of Jesuit contributions to science. The news was announced in the IAU's official Bulletin, published on 5 May, 2025.

Asteroid (17873) Palaciosdeborao

Named after Gonzalo Palacios de Borao (1894–1967), a Spanish Jesuit priest and scholar with doctorates in philosophy, theology, and medical sciences. He served as President of the University of Bombay (now Mumbai) and was a professor of electron microscopy at Andrés Bello Catholic University in Caracas, Venezuela. The asteroid was discovered on December 11, 1998, by Orlando A. Naranjo at the Llano del Hato National Astronomical Observatory in Mérida, Venezuela.

Asteroid (450737) Sarbievius

This asteroid honours Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski (1595–1640), also known by his Latin name Matthias Casimirus Sarbievius. A prominent Polish-Lithuanian Jesuit poet and professor at Vilnius University, he was renowned across Europe for his Latin poetry. His collection "Lyricorum libri tres" was widely acclaimed, earning him the title "Sarmatian Horace." In 1623, Pope Urban VIII crowned him with laurels for his poetic achievements.

The recent announcement by the International Astronomical Union adds to the more than 40 asteroids named after Jesuits, many of whom have contributed significantly to astronomy and related sciences.

In Britain, the Jesuit commitment to astronomy is epitomised by the Stonyhurst Observatory, established in 1838 at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire. Initially serving as a meteorological station, it evolved into a significant centre for astronomical research under Jesuit leadership.

Notably, Fr Stephen Joseph Perry SJ (1833–1889), an English Jesuit and Fellow of the Royal Society, directed the observatory during its most productive period. He led multiple expeditions to observe solar eclipses and the transit of Venus, including journeys to the Kerguelen Islands and Madagascar. His contributions significantly advanced the field of solar physics.

Other prominent British Jesuits, such as Fr Alfred Weld SJ and Fr Walter Sidgreaves SJ, also made significant contributions to astronomy and related sciences at Stonyhurst. Their collective efforts not only advanced scientific understanding but also trained Jesuits who would lead observatories worldwide.

This enduring legacy reflects the deep intertwining of faith and science within the British Jesuit tradition.

Banner photo by NASA Hubble Space Telescope on Unsplash

Photo of The Stonyhurst Observatory Imaginativename at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons