On July 30, 1610, the famous astronomer Galileo Galilei became the first to observe rings around the planet Saturn. Shortly after the telescope was invented in 1608, Galileo peered out into the solar ...

The telescope began as a relatively simple device, born out of optical experimentation. It combined a series of lenses and mirrors to collect and magnify light, allowing the user to see far away ...

The first telescopes, known as refracting telescopes, were built in the early 17th century by Dutch eyeglass makers. They employed a pair of lenses—one convex fitted at the end of the scope, and one ...

PHILADELPHIA -- Though it looks like a cardboard tube that got left out in the rain, it's a priceless instrument whose owner changed the world. The mottled brown cylinder on display at The Franklin ...

On Jan. 1, the calendar turned to the International Year of Astronomy. This new year marks the anniversary of one of the most profound events in human history - 400 years ago, Galileo Galilei first ...

Scientist celebrated today for changing our view of the universe. Aug. 25, 2009 — -- Who invented the telescope? Not Galileo. Who first pointed it at the heavens? Again, it wasn't Galileo. So ...

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters Life!) - A three-foot telescope used by the Italian astronomer Galileo, whose discoveries revolutionized astronomy, is the main attraction at an exhibition at the Franklin ...