| For most of us, we thought that Galileo Galilei was the | | | | ideas and progress and people then began to try out |
| inventor of telescope because this is what our science | | | | different ways of creating lenses. It was in 1608 that |
| teachers have told us and this is what we have read | | | | telescopes were invented. |
| in our science books. But the truth is, we are wrong | | | | The truth was there was not only one person who |
| because even if Galilei was one of the greatest | | | | invented the telescope because the invention can be |
| astronomers this planet has ever produced, he was | | | | given to three persons, Hans Lippershey and Zacharis |
| not the one who invented the telescope, so who | | | | Janssen and Jacob Metius. After the invention, |
| invented the telescope is a question that has been | | | | telescopes were then produced in numbers and were |
| plaguing our mind. | | | | spread across Europe and eventually in the Americas |
| The answer to question on who invented the | | | | and in Asia. The early telescopes can only increase |
| telescope is Hans Lipperhey. Yes he was the one | | | | the size of an object thrice its original size. But the |
| who invented the telescope and his invention has | | | | present telescopes can view object that are light |
| greatly contributed to world of astronomy and science | | | | years away and can see even the tiny object and |
| as whole. The telescope has changed the landscape | | | | magnify them. |
| of many things in our world. The telescope is used not | | | | When did Galilei enter into the picture? He actually did |
| only in discovering the world outside our planet such as | | | | not invent the telescope but added some things |
| the stars, planets and other astronomical objects but | | | | because he put a convex and concave lens in a tube |
| even in our daily lives. For instance, a telescope is used | | | | so what he did was an improved version of the original |
| in aiding navigation and transportation such as a vessel | | | | one. So Galilei was not really the one who invented the |
| and it is used even in the military field, as a tool of | | | | telescope. |
| protecting and defending one's territory. | | | | Now here is the twist to the story because there was |
| Now going back to the question on who invented the | | | | a rumor that circulated that it was neither Galilei nor |
| telescope, this guy named Han Lipperhey was the | | | | Hans who invented. It was the children of Hans who |
| cause for a big change in our world and he was born | | | | found out about the telescope while they were playing. |
| in Germany and built his home in Netherlands. Married in | | | | But that side of the story on who invented the |
| 1954 and a citizen of the Netherlands I 1602, he was a | | | | telescope was not yet proven. So at this point, we |
| trader by professions. At that time when the Italians | | | | have to settle with the more believable version and |
| came up with glass-techniques that was introduced to | | | | that is, it was Hans and two others who invented the |
| the Netherlands, such development has brought new | | | | telescope. |