An Evening with Brother Guy Consolmagno
When: Wednesday, April 22
Time: 7:00 pm–8:30 pm | Theater doors open at 6:30 pm
Where: Johnson Family Star Theater
Discover the human side of astronomy, from bold theories to spectacular missteps and the surprising lessons they leave behind.
Join Brother Guy Consolmagno, Director Emeritus of the Vatican Observatory and President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, as he presents Discarded Worlds: Astronomical Ideas That Were Almost Correct.
Astronomy is more than just observing. To make sense of these observations, a good theorist blends knowledge, imagination, and a willingness to be wrong.
Throughout history, great thinkers have taken on this challenge and come close to correct. Ptolemy in ancient Rome, medieval bishops Oresme and Cusa, and 19th-century astronomers Schiaparelli and Pickering were all almost right in their interpretations. They were wrong in interesting ways, sometimes hilariously, sometimes heartbreakingly.
What can we learn from these discarded images of the universe?
Ticketing Information
Tickets to this lecture must be purchased online, in advance, and include Museum Entry with access to all exhibitions.
If you would like to add on a dome theater show during your visit, tickets can be purchased during checkout for an additional fee.
Who is Brother Guy?
Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ is an astronomer and Director Emeritus (2015-2025) of the Vatican Observatory, and President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation.
Dr. Consolmagno’s work, exploring the connections between meteorites, asteroids, and the evolution of small solar system bodies, has brought him to every continent on Earth and led to over 300 scientific publications. Tapped into late night news? He has even appeared on The Colbert Report.
Most recently, Pope Francis appointed Dr. Consolmagno to the first of two terms as director of the Specola Vaticana (Vatican Observatory), which he completed in 2025.
Learn more about his life and career here.
Thanks To Our Sponsors
This program is brought to you in partnership with the MIT Club of Chicago.
