14/06/2008

Galileo Telescope

Galileo’s Telescope

The Instrument that changed the word

Istituto e museo della Scienza

4 march -31 december 2008

in the summer of 1609 Galileo Galilei receveid news that some Dutch opticians had developed a curious optical instrument: a tube provided with lenses at both ends, which made distant objects observed through it appear to be closer. As soon as he had been informed of the structural details, Galileo dedicated himself to perfecting the instrument. In a few months he managed to increase their magnifying power. It was then, toward autumn of 1609, that Galileo accomplished a truly extraordinary feat. Urged on by scientific curiosity, he turned his own perfected instrument toward the sky. The known stars and planets revealed unexpected physiognomies and new heavenly bodies were added to those of the old Ptolemaic Cosmos. Galileo immediately realized the inestimable value of his telescopic discoveries and the fact they constituted new observation points for promoting the Copernican doctrine of the Earth’s rotation around the Sun.

Now, 400 years later, the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza  holds an exhibition on Galileo’s telescope and the observations he made with it.

The displays will consist of rare and precious instruments (among them the objective and the only two existing telescopes by Galileo), manuscripts and ancient books. Comprehension of optical and astronomical principles will be facilitated by interactive exhibits and multimedia. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience through their own eyes the extraordinary Galileo’s experience.

Information:

Institute and Museum of the History of Science

Piazza dei Giudici 1

50122 Florence, Italy

telephone +39 055 265311