Pope Reforming the Gregorian Calendar Named Asteroid

 Pope Gregory XIII, the 16th-century pope who was responsible for what we now call the Gregorian calendar, now has another heavenly claim to fame. An International Astronomical Union working group has named an asteroid after itself, the Vatican Observatory said on Tuesday. 

 

 Asteroid 560974 Ugoboncompagni - Gregory's real name was Ugo Boncompagni - was announced along with 72 other asteroids named  in the February 27 update by the Union Small Body Nomenclature Task Force.The new group also includes three Jesuits linked to the Vatican Observatory, bringing the number of asteroids named after the Jesuits to more than 30, the observatory said in a statement. 

 

 Gregory (1502-1585), together with an Italian Jesuit astronomer and mathematician, improved the Julian calendar and introduced a new method of calculating leap years, giving rise to the present Gregorian calendar. 

 

 The beginnings of the Vatican Observatory in 1582 go back to the pontificate of Gregory and the reform of the Gregorian calendar. Located in the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo in the hills south of Rome, the observatory is now home to more than a dozen priests and monks who study the universe. It is directed by Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno.

 

 According to  the Observatory, naming an asteroid -- a relatively small cosmic body orbiting the Sun -- involves a temporary naming based on the date of discovery followed by a permanent number. 

 

 "At this point, the discoverer is asked to suggest a name," the observatory said, adding that pet names and trade names are taboo and it will be 100 years  before  an asteroid hits. . 

 

 The nomenclature working group of 15 astronomers then evaluates the proposed names.