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RJ'S SPACE SCIENCE RESEARCH GROUP WELCOMES VATICAN ASTRONOMER BR. BOB MACKIE, SJ, PHD
On October 31, one of RJ's newest clubs, the Space Science Research Group, welcomed special guest speaker and astronomer and curator for the Vatican Observatory in Rome. Br. Bob Mackie, SJ, PhD. joined the Vatican Observatory in 2013, where he studies meteorite physical properties in the observatory’s meteorite laboratory. In 2014, Br. Macke became the curator of the Vatican collection of 1200 meteorite specimens. He is currently helping NASA analyze samples from the 4.5-billion-year-old Bennu asteroid. These samples were returned by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft which was launched on a ULA rocket that our very own Rocket Science teacher, Greg Arend, helped build.
During this virtual meeting, Br. Mackie shared his experience designing and building the gas pycnometer instrument being used to measure the density and porosity of the asteroid samples and the career path that led him from MIT to the Vatican Observatory.
The club, which has approximately 50 students guided by three adult moderators—Rocket Science teacher Gred Arend, Director of the Innovation Center George Mitsuoka and Jesuit Community Superior, Chaplain and mathematics teacher Fr. Gary Menard, SJ—explores ongoing activities in space sciences and works with university scientists and researchers involved in space research including astronomy, astrophysics, spacecraft design and operation.
The club, which has approximately 50 students guided by three adult moderators—Rocket Science teacher Gred Arend, Director of the Innovation Center George Mitsuoka and Jesuit Community Superior, Chaplain and mathematics teacher Fr. Gary Menard, SJ—explores ongoing activities in space sciences and works with university scientists and researchers involved in space research including astronomy, astrophysics, spacecraft design and operation.
Student members have been hunting for planets using data from the MIT-led TESS mission and are working with RJ's Rocketry Club on payloads to launch next year.
To learn more about Br. Bob Mackie, SJ, and his continued works for the Vatican Observatory visit the Vatican Observatory webpage and read this article by the Jesuits U.S. Central and Southern Province.
To learn more about Br. Bob Mackie, SJ, and his continued works for the Vatican Observatory visit the Vatican Observatory webpage and read this article by the Jesuits U.S. Central and Southern Province.
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