What Good Is a Telescope? Part 3

As we celebrate IYA and Galileo's use of the astronomical telescope, it's time for some clarification. Galileo was not the first person to use a telescope. He wasn't even the first person to use a telescope for astronomical purposes. That honor goes to Thomas Harriot, an English astronomer who drew maps of the moon several months before Galileo. In fact, his very detailed diagrams were some of the best of the period. Unfortunately, he never published those maps or anything else related to his astronomical observations. He was well off and didn't need the income; it seems he pursued astronomy as a hobby and was content to keep his drawings to himself.
So as we honor Galileo for his discoveries and contributions, let's give a shout out to Thomas Harriot, who proved that if you don't publish, you just may perish (historically speaking). To hear more, you can check out this podcast from 365 Days of Astronomy, although it's a bit dry.

Thanks for joining me for this three part series. Check back next week for information on how and where you can see Venus!