Galileo and his Telescope
MC Faure Quartet for Piano and Strings 2 in G Minor in Second Movement
Galileo was not the inventor of the telescope, the true inventor is actually unknown. However, Galileo improved the telescope and used it to make new important astronomical discoveries. The telescope not only allowed things to be seen as if they were closer, it allowed things to be seen that were invisible to the naked eye, which lead to new discoveries about the universe. These discoveries not only improved the knowledge of the heavens at the time, they threatened a view that had been held for 2000 years. It was the start to changing the entire view of the universe.
The first geocentric model was created in 380 B.C. During this time, there was no instrument used to observe the heavens, only one’s own eyes. The geocentric theory stated that the earth was the center of the universe with the heavenly bodies revolving around it and that everything, except the earth, was made of aether, a made-up material that was perfect and unchangeable. This theory was adopted by the powerful and influential Catholic Church, who felt it went along with the Bible, Phrases like "He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved" (Psalm 104:5) and "The world is
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firmly established; it cannot be moved” (Psalm 93:1) supported the geocentric theory.
The geocentric model went unchallenged until Nicholas Copernicus published his book Revolutionibus in 1543, which explained a different theory where the earth revolved around the sun. Copernicus wanted an easier way to calculate the planet’s positions since the geocentric model was much more complicated.
People were not very accepting of Copernicus' book. The idea that everything revolved around the earth seemed to be |
the most logical one. Everything did seem to be revolving around us, for example the sun rose in the east and set in the west. It also didn’t seem likely that the earth was moving, no one could feel it moving, and nothing was flying off the surface. The apparent word of the Bible and the evidence of one’s own sense were hard to ignore.
The first telescope magnified three times using a weak convex and a strong concave lens. Galileo discovered that a bigger ratio of lens strengths would make the telescopes' magnifying power greater, so Galileo needed a weaker convex and a stronger concave lens. Spectacle makers only offered lenses in a few strengths, so Galileo had to learn the art of lens grinding and polishing. By August 1609, he had made a spyglass that magnified nine times. By improving the telescope, Galileo was able to use the instrument as a new way of observing the cosmos. Before, people could only base things off of what they could see, but the telescope allowed them to see things invisible to their naked eye. It was an extension of one of man’s own senses and it furthered the knowledge of space and our place in it.