This summer marks the 200th birthday of Father Angelo Secchi, the Jesuit priest often called the Father of Astrophysics. Last month I participated in a celebration of his work held in his home town of Reggio Emilia, northern Italy. Speakers covered topics drawn from his life and career, starting with a wonderful biographical sketch by Ileana Chinnici, a historian of astronomy at the Palermo Observatory (and an adjunct Vatican astronomer).

Like Galileo, Secchi had a knack for the popularisation of science, and for becoming embroiled in political controversy.