Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The First Moon Map, and Not By Galileo

Posted by kdawson on from the dutch-trunke dept.

sergio80 writes in with a timely piece of history in this the International Year of Astronomy, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the invention of the telescope. "Galileo Galilei is often credited with being the first person to look through a telescope and make drawings of the celestial objects he observed. While the Italian indeed was a pioneer in this realm, he was not the first..." That honor belongs to Thomas Harriot, an Englishman, who bought his first "Dutch trunke" (i.e. telescope) shortly after its invention in the Netherlands and made a sketch of the moon as seen through it in July of 1609.

6 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Copyright? by mikerubin · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, the LMAA (Lunar Map Association of America) currently has the copyright, and is subpoenaing the descendants of aforementioned Lord Egremont

    --
    I sat down to write a new sig tonight and all I did was make the chair warm.
  2. Re:Meh. by dotancohen · · Score: 2, Funny

    Pretty bad drawing. You could probably do a better job if you were a good artist, without any kind of optical device. Galileo gets the credit because his drawings actually looked good.

    That looks like Galileo drew the first goatse.

    --
    It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
  3. Re:Beware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I didn't see the brown rope. I looked and looked but could not find it. Please link to a brown rope next time.

  4. Re:Unsung hero of science? by bobdotorg · · Score: 3, Funny

    Despite his innovative work, Harriot remains relatively unknown. Unlike Galileo, he did not publish his drawings.

    "Thomas Harriot is an unsung hero of science," Chapman said.

    Not a chance, Harriot cannot be a hero of science since he did not publish his work. If you don't actually take the risk of publishing and try to contribute your knowledge to the world then you are not a hero of science.

    Hmm. So that makes Harriot a Guitar Hero of science?

    --
    __ Someday, but not this morning, I'll finally learn to use the preview button.
  5. Re:Copyright? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    They have the full support of the LMAO (Lunar Map Association of Oman) in this endeavor.

  6. Re:Galileo's contribution was different by TapeCutter · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Contrary to populer beleif, Einstein did not replace Newtons work with his spacetime/relativity work. Rather, he enhanced it."
    Contrary to your belief that's not what the GP said, you just enhanced it.

    --
    And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.