102. How Many Lunar Craters are Named After Jesuits?

At least thirty-five (35). From the 1600's up to the present, Jesuits can be found in the sciences and their various applications. Not least among this field is astronomy where at least 35 Jesuits have made significant contribution to the understanding of the physical universe and the advancement of scientific knowledge. From Mario Bettini (1582) of Italy until Paul McNally (1955) of the U.S., Jesuits have shown that faith and science need not necessarily clash but can enhance one another in our continued search for who we are and what is our mission here on earth.

Here is the list of the Jesuits whose names are forever enshrined on the surface of the moon.

NASM name	latitude	longitude	diameter
Bettinus	63.4s	315.2e	71.4 km
Billy	13.8s	309.9e	45.7 km
Blancanus	63.6s	338.5e	105.3 km
Boscovich	9.8n	11.1e	46.0 km
Cabaeus	84.9s	324.5e	98.4 km
Clavius	58.4s	345.6e	225.0 km
Cysatus	66.2s	353.9e	48.8 km
De Vico	19.7s	299.8e	20.3 km
Fenyi	44.9s	254.9e	39.0 km
Furnerius	36.3s	60.4e	125.2 km
Grimaldi	5.2s	291.4e	410.0 km
Gruemberger	66.9s	350.0e	93.6 km
Hagen	48.3s	135.1e	55.5 km
Hell	32.4s	352.2e	33.3 km
Kircher	67.1s	314.7e	72.5 km
Kugler	53.8s	103.7e	65.8 km
Malapert	84.9s	12.9e	69.0 km
Mayer	63.2n	17.3e	38.0 km
McNally	22.6n	232.8e	47.5 km
Moretus	70.6s	354.5e	114.4 km
Petavius	25.3s	60.4e	176.6 km
Riccioli	3.0s	285.7e	145.5 km
Riccius	36.9s	26.5e	70.6 km
Rodes*	23.0n	283.0e
Romana*	21.0s	33.0e	33.6 km
Scheiner	60.5s	332.2e	110.4 km
Schomberger	76.7s	24.9e	85.0 km
Secchi	2.4n	43.5e	22.7 km
Simpelius	73.0s	15.2e	70.4 km
Sirsalis	12.5s	299.6e	42.0 km
Stein	7.2n	179.0e	33.7 km
Tacquet	16.6n	19.2e	6.6 km
Tannerus	56.4s	22.0e	28.6 km
Zucchius	61.4s	309.7e	64.2 km
Zupus	17.2s	307.7e	38.0 km

* Not found in (NASM) catalog but is in the1960 Wilkins Moon Map

The map and charts are taken from page 74 of Jesuit Geometers by Joseph MacDonnell, S.J. of Fairfield University. This book concerns the impact the 56 most prominent pre-Suppression Jesuit geometers had on the development of mathematics and science. It is published jointly by the Publications of the Vatican Observatory and The Institute of Jesuit Sources .


For a complete bio of each Jesuit, visit this highly informative site:
http://www.faculty.fairfield.edu/jmac/sj/scientists/lunacrat.htm

Recently, a Filipino astronomer, Fr. Victor Badillo, was honored by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) by having an asteroid named after him.