We always see things around us but we forget to acknowledge them. Each and every object tells his own story. Here the object is Telescope and its the story of one of the most inspiring genius Galileo Galilei. His discoveries are the result extraordinary intellect and barrier free thinking.The telescope was invented 400 years ago.By the autumn of 1608, news of this invention had spread throughout Europe , and less than 2 years later Galileo Galilei published his most important Sidereus nuncius. He wrote in his book : "About ten months ago a report reached my ears that certain Fleming has constructed a spyglass by means of which a visible objects, though very distant from the eye of the observer, were distinctly seen as if nearby." Shortly afterward Galileo has constructed his own telescope and turned it toward the sky.
GALILEO'S TELESCOPE
At the same time the cosmological theory sanctioned by the Catholic Church was geocentric one, in which the Earth was considered as the center of the Universe and all celestial bodies were thought to orbit it. From his observations of Jupiter with is telescope, Galileo derived to a completely different cosmological theory. On January 7,1610, Galileo discovered that beside Jupiter were one star on the right hand side and two stars on the left hand side. The next day, the three stars were all on the right hand side and none were on the left hand side. Just two days later , the stars on the right hand side had all disappeared, and two faint ones showed up on the left hand side again. On the following day, one of the faint stars on the left hand side become brighter. A day later, all faint stars were gone, and only one star on the right hand side, while two were on the left hand side.Then on January 13, the configuration of the stars changed significantly again, with three on the right and one on the left..!
From these observations, Galileo reasoned that these stars behaved as is they were "moons" of Jupiter .i.e., four satellites orbited it, but not Earth !! This showed that not all the celestial objects were revolving about Earth, which refuted the theory backed by the Catholic Church.
Then as the matter of time, Galileo discovered important theories and law including inertial mass and gravitational mass, lunar mountains and craters , the phases of Venus and so on.
Unfortunately in 1633, Galileo was sentenced to house arrest by Roman Catholic Church. By order of pope, he was prohibited from publishing, giving lectures, teaching, and discussing academic topics with his friends. Fours years later in 1637, Galileo lost his sight. He died on January 8, 1942. His death might have stunted the growth of the modern science were it not for Issac Newton, born in the same year. Fortunately the powers of Pope did not extend to England at that time, and Newton was able to further advance modern science following the footsteps of Galileo.
I have just summed up the story in just few lines, so please do read the complete autobiography of Galileo Galilei. Please share your valuable thoughts about Galileo in the comment section.
