August 25: Galileo Demonstrates Telescope

On 25 August 1609, Galileo Galilei demonstrated his telescope to the Venetian officials. Because of the common misconception that Galileo invented the telescope, it is important to note that he demonstrated “his” version of the telescope and not the “first” telescope.

The telescope had actually been invented a year earlier in the Netherlands by Hans Lippershey, Zacharias Janssen, and Jacob Metius. In fact, four months before Galileo’s demonstration, English mathematician Thomas Harriot published the first drawing of the moon using a telescope.

In was not until 1611 when Prince Frederick Sesi would coin the word telescope from the Greek words τῆλε (tele ) and σκοπεῖν (skopein); two words that combine to mean to look or see far. Although Galileo initially presented his telescope as military technology for spotting the enemy from a great distance, he is best known for using the telescope to gaze at the heavens. Eventually, Galileo’s theories would cause him to be investigated by the Inquisition.

In 1609, Christian Europe accepted the Catholic Church’s belief in creation that placed the Earth at the center of the solar system. However, as James Owen explains, “Galileo’s telescope overturned this idea by allowing the scientist to observe moon-like phases in the planet Venus, which could only be explained by a sun-centered solar system.” In 1633, after being investigated by the Inquisition for his heliocentric views, he was found “vehemently suspect of heresy.” He would remain under house arrest for the rest of his life.
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Two hundred and nineteen years after Galileo demonstrated his telescope, on 25 August 1835, the New York Sun published the first in a series of articles about great astronomical discoveries by Sir John Herschel. Herschel was a British scientist and astronomer. He submitted his first mathematical paper to the Royal Society in 1812 and became a founding member of the Royal Astronomical Society. He is also the individual who coined the term photography.

According to the New York Sun, Herschel’s accomplishments included a new theory of cometary phenomena, discovery of planets in other solar systems, and finding life on the moon. It was not until years later that Herschel learned of his discoveries. The six part series in the New York Sun had been a hoax.

–Steven L. Berg, PhD

Photo Caption: Giuseppe Bertini’s Galileo Galilei che mostra l’utilizzo del cannocchiale al Doge di Venezia (1858).

2 Responses

  1. Steven Cook says:

    Galileo Galilei was only one of many prosecuted during the Inquisition. For example, the philosopher Giordano Bruno was heavily attacked for his thoughts and theories. Bruno believed that space is infinite and there is life outside of earth. Additionally, Bruno dined the Trinity and the theory that the Virgin Mary was a virgin. Despite being criticized for his views, he always stuck by them. Unfortunately, his strong will was his ultimate downfall. On February 17, 1600 Bruno was burned at the stake after weeks of torture. His death is significant because he was the last individual burned by the Roman Inquisition and he became a scientific martyr.

  2. Hina Gandher says:

    Although Galileo Galilei did not invent the telescope, he did create many other inventions. Before I move on to these, it is interesting to note that although he did not invent the telescope, he did build his version of after without ever seeing a telescope and just hearing about it. Some of Galileos inventions include; a geometric compass, a thermometer, a pendulum clock, and a horse drawn water pump. Many of Galileos inventions were due to his need for money to support his family and dowry for his sisters. He was not only an astronomer, but also a mathematician, physicist, and philosopher.

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