WONDER BOUND exhibit at Vatican’s Specola Gallery showcases stunning Hubble & Webb telescope images, blending cosmic beauty with scientific discovery. Opens Nov 3.
Newsroom (21/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) The Vatican Observatory, Johns Hopkins University, and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) have joined forces to launch WONDER BOUND, an awe-inspiring exhibition showcasing breathtaking images from the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. Opening November 3, 2025, at the newly established Specola Gallery within the Papal Summer Palace, the exhibit is a highlight of the Vatican’s 2025 Jubilee celebration, offering visitors a vivid encounter with the universe’s grandeur.
Featuring large-scale, full-color prints of cosmic phenomena—ranging from Jupiter’s shimmering auroras to distant exoplanets and luminous star-forming regions—the exhibition immerses viewers in the universe’s deepest reaches. Each image is paired with insights from leading Johns Hopkins and STScI researchers, connecting the visual splendor to groundbreaking scientific discoveries. The exhibit underscores the collaborative efforts of thousands of scientists, engineers, and visionaries over decades, whose work has transformed humanity’s understanding of the cosmos.
“These images fill us with wonder, and indeed a mysterious joy, as we contemplate their sublime beauty,” Pope Leo remarked during a recent address to participants of the Vatican Observatory’s 2025 Summer School. The sentiment echoes the exhibition’s mission to blend scientific inquiry with spiritual reflection.
Located on the grounds of the Papal Summer Palace, the Specola Gallery is part of the Vatican Museums and open to the public. Reservations can be made in English or Italian via the Museums’ website. WONDER BOUND marks the gallery’s inaugural display, showcasing the Vatican Observatory’s commitment to bridging science and faith.
Since their respective launches—Hubble in 1990 and James Webb in 2021—the telescopes have collectively delivered nearly two million observations of over 100 million astronomical objects. These efforts have fueled thousands of scientific papers, unraveled mysteries of cosmic origins, and offered unprecedented views of the universe’s infancy. The exhibition celebrates these achievements, presenting iconic images that capture both the universe’s complexity and its profound beauty.
Brother Guy Consolmagno, a meteor expert and Emeritus Director of the Vatican Observatory, emphasized the exhibit’s immersive quality. “These remarkable images make you feel like you’re immersed within the nebulae and galaxies themselves,” he said. “Displaying their beauty and the scientific discoveries connected to them is a way to give glory to their Creator.”
Ray Jayawardhana, Provost of Johns Hopkins University and an astrophysicist, added: “These spectacular images transform particles of dust and gas into cathedrals of wonder and knowledge, revealing the unfolding story of the cosmos and our place within it. They are testaments to human ingenuity and curiosity, inspiring the next generation of scientists.”
The exhibition features contributions from prominent researchers, including Nobel laureate cosmologist Adam Riess, astrophysicists Rosemary F.G. Wyse and Ray Jayawardhana, planetary scientists Massimo Robberto and Sabine Stanley, exoplanet expert David Sing, and cosmologist Massimo Stiavelli, former Head of Mission for the James Webb Space Telescope.
“This exhibit offers the public an exceptional opportunity to explore how the Hubble and James Webb telescopes are transforming our understanding of the universe,” said Dr. Jennifer Lotz, Director of STScI, which serves as the science operations center for both telescopes and the forthcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
Following its run at the Specola Gallery through summer 2026, WONDER BOUND will join the Papal Palace’s permanent collection. The exhibition is sponsored by Johns Hopkins Wavelengths, a program dedicated to connecting cutting-edge research with public audiences.
For more information or to reserve a visit, go to the Vatican Museums’ website.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from vaticanstate.va
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