During the 16th and 17th centuries there was a surge of interest, associated speculations and inventions that surrounded the study of stars. For example in 1543, Copernicus published his theory which hypothesized that the earth and the other planets revolved around the sun. In addition, from 1604 through 1610, a supernova was observed in the Milky Way, the orbits of the planets were studied, the first refracting telescope was invented and Jupiter's moons were observed.

One of the foremost scientific and inventive individuals, during this time, was an Italian physicist by the name of Galileo Galiliei. Often Galileo is credited with the invention of the telescope. However, this is not true. The credit for the creation of the telescope is given to an inventor from Holland by the name of Hans Lippershey. Nevertheless, the improvements made with Galileo’s telescope were significant and useful which led to his name being associated with the invention of the telescope.

Who Was Galileo

Galileo Galilei is often referred to as the "father of modern physics." Through his studies and findings he substantiated the theories of Copernicus and his work has become the basis for elementary physics taken by students.

Galileo was born in the Tuscany region of Italy on the 15th of February in the year 1564. His remedial education was received through private tutoring and eventually he attended the University of Pisa. Due to financial hardships, he was unable to finish his university training, but was offered a faculty position where he taught mathematics.

Eventually, he moved to a neighboring city and continued serving as a member of the university’s faculty. The subjects of his instruction were geometry, mechanics and astronomy.

It was in 1609 that Galileo heard of the invention of the telescope. As the story is told the inventor of the first telescope, Hans Lipperhey, was denied a patent for his invention. In addition, a foreigner tried to sell a similar invention to the government of Venice. The Venetian government refused and eventually Galileo’s telescope was submitted and was accepted by the Venetian government.

Galileo’s Telescope

The original Galileo's telescope was an eight power telescope. Through modifications and grinding the lenses himself he was able to improve the functionality of his first telescope and of course his focus became the study of the planets.

In addition to his observations he began to record what he was visualizing. Through planetary study afforded by Galileo's telescope, he was able to publish a book by the name of “The Starry Messenger."

Also, Galileo's telescope was utilized to study the moons of Jupiter. This study had a direct correlation on earth as Galileo endeavored to apply this knowledge to help sailors locate their position by determining their longitude while at sea.

In addition, the observations, as seen through Galileo's telescope were used to substantiate the theory of Copernicus. This theory asserted that the planets revolved around the sun and not vice versa.

Eventually, because of the revelations of the universe, as seen through Galileo's telescope, he was viewed by the church as promoting dangerous theories and teachings. Eventually, his teachings, which were deemed as being heretical, earned him an admonition from one of the church leaders. In that admonition he was ordered to refrain from supporting the Copernican theory.