DID YOU KNOW?
Galileo based the first astronomical telescope on Hans Lippershey’s 1608 invention
GALILEO’S EARLY VISION
Over 400 years ago, the telescope was first used for astronomical observations
1 EYEPIECE The eyepiece was a concave lens that was used to magnify the image from the lens opposite.
2 OBJECTIVE LENS The larger end had a convex lens. This focused the light from distant objects into the telescope.
3 BODY The main tube of the telescope was wooden and kept the lenses at an optimal distance. Galileo’s telescope was around one metre long.
4 MOUNTING BRACKETS These wooden rings held the lenses securely in place for a clear image.
5 SLIDING TUBE The tube had an external covering so that it could be elongated or shortened. This enabled the user to focus the image by changing the distance between the lenses.
GALILEO’S EARLY VISION
Over 400 years ago, the telescope was first used for astronomical observations
1 EYEPIECE The eyepiece was a concave lens that was used to magnify the image from the lens opposite.
2 OBJECTIVE LENS The larger end had a convex lens. This focused the light from distant objects into the telescope.
3 BODY The main tube of the telescope was wooden and kept the lenses at an optimal distance. Galileo’s telescope was around one metre long.
4 MOUNTING BRACKETS These wooden rings held the lenses securely in place for a clear image.