Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. Today’s guestbook entry is from April 20, 1911, when George C. Comstock made a visit. Next to his name, George Cary Comstock (1855-1934) wrote, “Madison, Wis. Washburn Observatory.” He was the director of Washburn Observatory (part of the University of Wisconsin – Madison) from 1887 until his retirement in 1922. As an astronomer, he mostly studied stellar aberration, atmospheric refraction, and the proper motion of double stars. He was a founding member of the American Astronomical Society in 1899 and was a coauthor of its constitution. He served as its first secretary, and in 1925 was elected president. In 1899 he became a member of the National Academy of Sciences.   … Continue reading →