Then...

"I never met a man so stubborn I couldn't learn something from him."- Galileo

      And in 1602, Galileo Galilei was on a lucky streak. Hans Lippershey had invented the first telescope. But Lippershey's original telescope's screen was upside down, and you couldn't see farther than a few steps. The difference was that the objects were clearer. When Galileo heard about this invention, he wanted to make himself a model. But his finished product was much better than Lippershey's. You could twenty times farther, and twenty times clearer. More importantly, the image was not upside down. When everyone knew about this better model of Lippershey's invention, everyone wanted the new one.

Pulsilogia- a device that measures a person's pulse. Later used at his university.

      The reason Galileo's telescope became popular so quickly was because of the history of Italy. Italy was not an entire country at the time, instead, it had been divided into city-states, ruled by noble families. They were not always friendly toward each other, and wanted telescopes to spy on each other.

     However Galileo found other uses for his improved telescope. With some tinkering, his telescope could see much, much farther into outer space. Now that he could see the other planets, he began to do experiments and research on the planets he saw, particularly Jupiter. He discovered four of the moons around Jupiter. He experimented using the scientific process of a hypothesis, the actual experiment, comparison of the two, and change the hypothesis as needed. This process is repeated many times until the hypothesis is finally true

     For the rest of his life, Galileo continued his experiments. However, few people believed what Galileo had found out. Because of this, he later was punished with house arrest. As he grew old, he got an eye infection, and went blind. But, he still continued his experiments. At the age of 77, on January 8, 1642, Galileo died in his home, still under house arrest.

     Over the years, Galileo's telescope has become better and better. The telescope is available to today's public, even children! Now, almost anyone can watch the planet Jupiter at night; just like Galileo did centuries ago! If Galileo was still inventing, he might be working on something that finds the climate on planets.

     For the rest of his life, Galileo continued his experiments. However, few people believed what Galileo had found out. Because of this, he later was punished with house arrest. As he grew old, he got an eye infection, and went blind. But, he still continued his experiments. At the age of 77, on January 8, 1642, Galileo died in his home, still under house arrest.

     Over the years, Galileo's telescope has become better and better. The telescope is available to today's public, even children! Now, almost anyone can watch the planet Jupiter at night; just like Galileo did centuries ago! If Galileo was still inventing, he might be working on something that finds the climate on planets.

He was later punished with house arrest.

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Research and Web page created by
Barbara