400th Anniversary of the Telescope

Dear David,

I am a stargazer with various telescopes.

Of course, a big telescope is necessary for serious observation, but just for fun a small one will do. Even a pair of binoculars can be great, especially under dark skies.
Enjoy!

Manfred

quote:

Originally posted by Manni:
Even a pair of binoculars can be great, especially under dark skies.
Enjoy!

Manfred

Indeed, especially for a novice. It is often much easier to learn the skies and fix objects in view with a lower powered instrument like binoculars. A common mistake for novices is to go straight for the highest power lens and then never find anything without a lot of effort.

quote:

A common mistake for novices is to go straight for the highest power lens and then never find anything without a lot of effort.

For certain.
That's one reason I bought a 'scope with the motor and computer.
And the Celestron 'scope has just enough magnification that the moon fills the display. Not really much more magnification than my little Galileo replica, but larger field of view and far superior optics.
I have read a lot around radio astronomy and try to keep up with the latest discoveries in deepest space.
There is a great deal of light pollution in my area as well as the typical midwestern humidity, so I'll have to pack it up one night and take it out in the country and see what I can see.
Great fun!
Do either of you photograph through your 'scopes? Care to share any pics?
Happy gazing.
David

Strange, we've always learned that the telescope, or binoculars, are invented in Mddelburg in Holland in 1608. It's not clear from records who was the inventer, Zacharias Jansen or Johannes Lipperhey, but records do show the latter trying to ask for a patent in 1608. For a "buyse waarmede men verre kan sien", a tube to see matters far away in old dutch.

Indeed, credit is not always given to those who deserve it, but most don't say that Galileo "invented" the telescope, rather he improved it. He certainly gave birth to modern astronomy. And Stephen Hawking has said "Galileo, perhaps more than any other single person, was responsible for the birth of modern science."
Most records show that he obtained his first device from the Dutch inventors and then went on from there.
He saw the potential of the invention and helped smash any number of ill-conceived notions about our place in the universe. And in many area of science, not limited to astronomy. All at great personal expense.
Seems that the catholic church has spent the last 350 or so years apologizing in one way or another.
David