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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Hans Lippershey's ingenious spyglass -- Galileo's new window on the heavens -- Johannes Kepler, the nearsighted wizard -- Isaac Newton's reflecting telescope -- William Herschel's giant reflectors -- ...

Still, even Galileo recognized the ground-based uses of telescopes. After building his first telescopes, Galileo demonstrated the new instrument to the Venetian Senate, including military leaders.