What impact did Galileo have on astronomy?

Answer 1

Plenty.

Galileo invented the telescope. Well, he may not have come up with the idea, but he built one that worked better than any other one at the time, so he was the first one to closely observe the heavens. He was able to study the craters on nearby planets and moons. Do you know that he discovered a bunch of moons (4 moons of Jupiter) and got nothing for them? He tried to sell the naming rights to the government but even that didn't take. Several world famous scientists were underappreciated. Sure, if he didn't do it, someone else would have, but still, he DID it! and nobody up to that point could do it but he. (Sorry, I respect these guys)

He also created and verified the law of falling bodies, as well as add support to the Copernican Universe Model (the heliocentric theory - everything revolves in circular orbits around the sun). However, this was later expounded on and made into our current universal theories.

Need more information? Take a look at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei

Answer 2

Galileo was the "inventor" of the "Newtonian" telescope, and with it, he was the first to discover and view the four largest moons orbiting Jupiter. His invention of the Newtonian Telescope shed insurmountable dicoveries and information on the Solar System which disproved many fallicies concerning our Earth and the orbits of the planets around the Sun. His discoveries are far too numerous to go into detail here...but let it be understood, that the invention if the Newtonian Telescope...which is still to this day one of the most popular forms of telescopes in use today (I have 4 Newtonians myself ranging from 130mm diameter to more than 28" in diameter which requires a "latter" to view through the observers' lense)...and Galileo is crowned the "Father of modern Astronomy" If you're honestly interested in this wonderful subject of Astronomy, I would like to make the sugestion for you to purchase the 3 volumes of "Burnhams Celestrial Hanbook"...which is a MUST for every serious observer of the Galaxy and beyond. Also, pick up a copy of "Nortons Star Atlas"...the most popular Star Atlas for more than 50 years and running. Burnhams and Nortons are simply the best and inexpensive tools-of-the-trade for any Astronomer, being either a novice or a professional. No Astronomer should be without either of these. Good luck and good hunting.

Answer 3

Galileo was the first person to publish astronomical observations with a telescope. His findings contradicted the ideas of Aristotle which were widely held at the time.

Among his more significant observations were that the Moon has craters and mountains and the Sun has spots which change over time. Both of these contradicted the Aristotelian idea that all heavenly bodies were perfect spheres. He discovered that the Milky Way was composed of tiny stars.

He found four moons orbiting Jupiter. This was significant because Aristotle said everything revolved around the Earth. He used the fact that these bodies did not to support the Copernican theory that the Earth revolved around the Sun. He also observed the phases of Venus and realized that was evidence that Venus orbited the Sun, not the Earth.

Galileo did not invent the telescope, though he led people to believe he did. He heard about the telescope invented by Hans Lippershey, a Dutch spectacle maker, and built some for himself. Lippershey's application for a patent on the telescope was denied due to competing claims.

Edit:
Larry M, I thought the Newtonian telescope was invented by some guy named Newton?

Answer 4

Galileo made the "Galilean" telescope using a convex objective lens and a concave eyepiece. He was not the inventor of it, although he was attributed to this type of telescope.

Also, note that Galileo did not make the "Newtonian" telescope as someone mentioned. It was Newton who made the Newtonian telescope, which uses the mirror as the main light gathering objective instead of an objective lens.

Although Galileo had a few rather crude telescopes with powers of 8X, 14X, 20X and limited with a very restrictive field of view, he was able to study and document his findings on Jupiter, Venus, rings of Saturn, craters on our Moon and other smaller objects and observations such as the positions of the four moons of Jupiter, and the phases of Venus. His contribution was significant and provided the basis for future explorations.

Answer 5

He has done so many things to astronomy!

Not only that but to Science!

He's the father of modern astronomy because he showed the value of experimentation through the dropping of the two masses at the Leaning Tower.

He invented the telescope! And through that, he studied Jupiter's moons and the sun.

He also defended the Copernican Helio-centric view even if he denounced his claim at the Inquisition. Legend has it as he denounced, he whispered, "But it does move! It does move all the same!"

Answer 6

Galileo did not invent the telescope (known since at least 1590).In his time telescopes were a novelty item.I think he got one of these toys and improved the design allowing him to be one of the first to use a telescope on the heavens.Some of his discoveries were:

- Craters on moon
- Phases of Venus
-Satellites of Jupiter

Main impact: An aggressive popularizer of Copernican viewpoint and satirist of Aristotelian physics.

Answer 7

Galileo invented the telescope and observed Jupiter. He established Copernicus's findings.

Answer 8

I would call him the father of astronomy

Answer 9

he has something to do with the moons or craters on venus. i forgot