galileo’s contribution to astronomy: the telescope
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Galileo’s TelescopeGalileo’s Telescope
Galileo didn’t actually invent the telescopeGalileo didn’t actually invent the telescope– Terrestrial version was invented in the Netherlands by Terrestrial version was invented in the Netherlands by
spectacle makers (Hans Lippershey, Zacharias Janssen, and spectacle makers (Hans Lippershey, Zacharias Janssen, and Jacob Metius)Jacob Metius)
He did, however, improve upon the design in 1609He did, however, improve upon the design in 1609 Also first to point toward the night sky (only his Also first to point toward the night sky (only his
improvements made this possible)improvements made this possible) ““Telescope” (Greek for “far seeing”) was first coined Telescope” (Greek for “far seeing”) was first coined
by Greek mathematician to refer to Galileo’s deviceby Greek mathematician to refer to Galileo’s device
Support for Heliocentric ModelSupport for Heliocentric Model Phases of Venus:Phases of Venus:
– Because Galileo observed Because Galileo observed all phases all phases of Venus, it of Venus, it must orbit the sunmust orbit the sun
– Such an observation was Such an observation was impossibleimpossible in the in the geocentric model of Aristotle or Ptolemygeocentric model of Aristotle or Ptolemy
Venus photo credit: Doug Anderson, Shoestring Astronomy
Moons of Jupiter:Moons of Jupiter:– Galileo observed the 4 largest moons of Jupiter Galileo observed the 4 largest moons of Jupiter
and traced their orbits around this gas giantand traced their orbits around this gas giant– This provided proofThis provided proof
that bodies orbitedthat bodies orbited
objects other thanobjects other than
the Earththe Earth
Jupiter photo credit: Doug Anderson, Shoestring Astronomy
Support for Heliocentric ModelSupport for Heliocentric Model
Other Contributions: The MoonOther Contributions: The Moon Galileo first to Galileo first to
report craters and report craters and mountains on the mountains on the moonmoon– Moon not perfect Moon not perfect
sphere like sphere like Aristotle claimedAristotle claimed
First to observe rings First to observe rings of Saturn but was of Saturn but was confused by their confused by their appearance and appearance and couldn’t explain themcouldn’t explain them
Other Contributions: SaturnOther Contributions: Saturn
Even small telescope allowsEven small telescope allows
one to distinguish individualone to distinguish individual
stars out of ‘milky’ cloudstars out of ‘milky’ cloud
Other Contributions: The Milky WayOther Contributions: The Milky Way
Galileo was one of first in Europe to observe Galileo was one of first in Europe to observe sunspotssunspots
Made detailed drawingsMade detailed drawings Argued sunspots were actually on sun and not Argued sunspots were actually on sun and not
satellites of the sunsatellites of the sun Further evidence against Aristotle’s view that Further evidence against Aristotle’s view that
everything in the heavens was perfecteverything in the heavens was perfect
Other Contributions: SunspotsOther Contributions: Sunspots