Stare long enough at the stars and one of the stars just might start taking notice of you.

Or so it felt to the organisers of the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve this week when they received official word that one of the stars of the world of astronomy has taken notice of the clear views of South Kerry - none other than the Pope's Astronomer himself.

Excitement is palpable in Iveragh ahead of the visit of Bro Guy Consolmagno, the Jesuit appointed by Pope Francis as the Director of the Vatican Observatory. Bro Consolmagno is coming to Kerry to visit the Reserve on Tuesday, October 17 but will also deliver two talks on the date - one to the students of Coláiste na Sceilge in Cahersiveen and a later public lecture in the school at 8pm on 'The Heavens Proclaim: Astronomy and the Vatican.'

It's a science taken very seriously in the Eternal City with Bro Consolmagno regarded as one of the world's foremost authorities on the relationship between meteorites and asteroids; a man who discovered a number of examples of the former on an expedition to Antarctica.

He is coming to Cahersiveen at the invitation of Skellig Coast Dark Skies Committee Steve Lynott and will be welcomed by Kerry Mayor John Sheehan on his arrival. "Bro Guy is a charismatic, enthusiastic scientist and communicator whose talks are enjoyed by astronomers and the wider public all over the world. He is taking time from his busy schedule...to demonstrate his commitment to conservation and preservation of the great natural resource of the unpolluted night sky we enjoy in the Skellig Coast area," Steve Lynott said.

Kerryman