Vatican astronomer has an asteroid named for him

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Father Chris Corbally an astronomer at the Vatican Observatory has his name attached to a rocky body in the asteroid belt that orbits the sun once in four years. It came as a complete surprise to him. The asteroid designated 119248 Corbally is about a mile across in size and was discovered in September 2001 by Roy Tucker, an engineer from the Imaging Technology Laboratory at the University of Arizona. Roy Tucker worked with Vatican astronomers and at the Vatican Advanced Technology Laboratory. Naming an asteroid requires approval from a committee of the International Astronomical Union.

Father Corbally, 74,  was born in London and was a Vatican Observatory staff since 1983. He obtained a doctorate degree in astronomy from the University of Toronto and grew to become the Vice Director of the Vatican Observatory Research Company. He held the post till 2012.
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