Who invented the telescope ?
If you said Galileo, the answer is wrong !
It is believed that the telescope was invented in 1608 by Hans Lipperhey.
Most books mislead us into thinking that Galileo invented the telescope; he did not. But he was the first to point it towards and sky and use it for observing the heavenly bodies.
He improved the power of the telescope and was able to observe many remarkable things in the Solar System including the four large moons of Jupiter ( which we now call Galilean Moons). He observed the irregular features on our Moon; observed that Venus also had phases just like our Moon. He was also one of the first Europeans to observe Sun spots. He also obsereved the Milky Way and noticed that it had billions of stars. He published his observations in a short treatise called Sidereus Nuncius ( Starry Messenger).
His observations helped him in strengthening his belief about a Heliocentric Model ( all planets go around the Sun) as opposed to the current belief at that time, the Geo-centric Model ( all planets go around the Earth). Then began Galileo's trouble with the Catholic Church. He was forced to say that he was mistaken about the Heliocentric model in order to escape death. His famous last words which he murmured during the trial loosely translated were 'and yet it moves'. He was placed under house arrest for many years. He became completely blind after that, yet, he continued to teach and write till his death!
It was not until 1992 that the Catholic Church finally accepted the Heliocentric model !
This was 350 years after the death of Galileo !
Nicholas Copernicus is considered by many as the the Father of Modern Astronomy because of his Heliocentric Model theory, which paved the way for a revolution.
He improved the power of the telescope and was able to observe many remarkable things in the Solar System including the four large moons of Jupiter ( which we now call Galilean Moons). He observed the irregular features on our Moon; observed that Venus also had phases just like our Moon. He was also one of the first Europeans to observe Sun spots. He also obsereved the Milky Way and noticed that it had billions of stars. He published his observations in a short treatise called Sidereus Nuncius ( Starry Messenger).
His observations helped him in strengthening his belief about a Heliocentric Model ( all planets go around the Sun) as opposed to the current belief at that time, the Geo-centric Model ( all planets go around the Earth). Then began Galileo's trouble with the Catholic Church. He was forced to say that he was mistaken about the Heliocentric model in order to escape death. His famous last words which he murmured during the trial loosely translated were 'and yet it moves'. He was placed under house arrest for many years. He became completely blind after that, yet, he continued to teach and write till his death!
It was not until 1992 that the Catholic Church finally accepted the Heliocentric model !
This was 350 years after the death of Galileo !
Nicholas Copernicus is considered by many as the the Father of Modern Astronomy because of his Heliocentric Model theory, which paved the way for a revolution.
posted by Shilpa at 3:33 PM
6 Comments:
Are you sure that's 1992??? Unbelievable!
Yup 1992 it is !!
A telescope article finally. Shilpa this should ave been oyur first post since it was a money earner. Ramki, you are the "telescope person" of the group.. why dont you keep a bet on the catholic church and them accepting in 1992 too !!!!! .. hehehehehehehehe
Good info..thanx for it.
I remember my school days when i made a periscope..u know how much happi i felt after that.
mm pretty informative. LOL
Thanks for the correcting my GK.....
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