Was Galileo the inventor of the first Telescope and first to closely planet watch?

Question

Today's Yahoo news about the emergence of 3 new planets got me to ask, who invented the first telescope and actually saw the planets in Solar System.

p/s: And when was the first document facts of the planets before Uranus' discovery?

Answer 1

Galileo did not invent the telescope. That is usually attributed to a Dutch spectacle maker named Hans Lippershey (Anton Van Leeuwenhoek was inventor of the microscope, BTW).

Galileo was among the first to build telescopes, though, and the first to report on observations of the planets using one.

His most important planetary discoveries were the phases of Venus and the moons of Jupiter. Both observations supported the then-controversial (heretical, in fact) theory of Nicolas Copernicus that the Earth and the other planets orbit the sun. The changing phase and size of of Venus are indications that it is moving around the sun. The moons of Jupiter were significant because they were clearly orbiting Jupiter, while the belief at the time was that everything revolved around Earth.

He observed Saturn but his telescopes were not good enough to resolve the rings. What he saw was a large blob on either side of the planet, which led to to say Saturn was "triple".

Not sure what you're asking about "first document facts of the planets". Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, being visible to the naked eye, were known before recorded history.

Answer 2

He did not invent the telescope but he made it more accurate. Telescopes were used for fun, but Galileo made it so that u can actually see through it. And yes, he is the first to closely see the planets.

Answer 3

He did not invent the telescope but he made it more accurate. Telescopes were used for fun, but Galileo made it so that u can actually see through it. And yes, he is the first to closely see the planets.

Answer 4

The telescope was invented by a dutch spectacle maker - Van Leuwenhoek (I think that's how it is spelled).

Galileo, heard about it and within less than a year he had made one himself and was studying the sky.

So, Galileo was first to see the craters on the moon, the 4 main moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn.

Answer 5

There are 5 planets seen without a telescope, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn (6 in case you comprise Uranus for those with sharp eyes!). all of them flow interior 7 stages of the ecliptic. This tells you something approximately of the orientation of the planet orbit planes with know to the ecliptic---the determine below shows how flat the photograph voltaic device is whilst considered alongside the ecliptic airplane. The planet positions, of course, do replace as they orbit the sunlight, however the orbit orientations stay the comparable.

Answer 6

It appears that Galileo was the first with the telescope and star watching and my information comes from the following website: http://galileo.rice.edu/science.html/telescope.html. The have a complete history of him there where you can find out many interesting facts. Enjoy the skies!

Answer 7

I agree w/ I need some, because Galileo is usually credited with its invention

Answer 8

no i don't think so