The Astronomy Department Acquires A Model of Galileo's Telescope

The astronomy department commissioned an artist in Italy to make a replica of one of Galileo’s telescopes to use for demonstrations at the observatory, and Ivano Dalprete (from the History of Science department) recently brought it back from Italy for us (Dr. Dalprete also informed us about the opportunity to have this replica made and suggested that we buy it). This replica is modeled on an original telescope which is at a museum in Florence. The optics of this replica are exactly the same, but some of the specific details of the tube and the decorations are different. (The Franklin Institute also has a copy of this instrument now for the Year of Astronomy.) We will keep this instrument at the Leitner Observatory, and eventually will have a display case so that people can enjoy looking at it when aren’t using it for demonstrations.

Leitner Observatory News