Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Astronomy

A 400 year old Moon map corrects history, making Galileo Galilei a runner up

Mihai Andrei by Mihai Andrei
April 28, 2023
in Astronomy, History, Science

As we learn (or at least should) at quite an early age, Galileo Galilei had quite the impact on science, making numerous improvements in telescopes and conducting early observations of the Moon, making the first map of our planet’s satellite. Right? Wrong. Despite the fact that he will always remain “father of modern observational astronomy” and his name will be forever recalled with respect, it seems somebody else beat him to the map.

The first drawing of the moon through a telescope, delimitating the terminator, the line that marks the boundary between day and night on the lunar surface.

As a matter of fact, englishman Thomas Harriot made the first drawing of the moon, in July 1609 (that’s exactly 400 years), a few months before Galileo, after looking through a telescope. Historian Allan Chapman explains how he preceded all the others and continued to make maps throughout the following decades.

Harrior studied at St Mary’s Hall (now part of Oriel College), Oxford, and then continued his work as a math teacher and joined Sir Walter Raleigh in many of his explorations. After felling from royal grace, he was imprisoned, but with help from Henry Percy, he became one of Europe’s leading mathematics authorities at the time, and not very long after that, he bought his first “Dutch trunke” (telescope) and used it to draw the surface of the moon, making him the first man to draw an astronomical object after looking at it through a telescope.

After recovering his wealth, he continued to make many maps, bettering many of the more famous drawings, but despite that, he remains relatively unknown. Why’s that?? If we were to take Chapman’s word for it, it’s because of his wealth, as he was a “well-maintained philosopher to a great and wealthy nobleman” with a generous salary, said to be “several times the level of the Warden of Wadham College, Oxford.”, which probably caused him not publishing his drawings. His wealth contrasted to Galileo and his financial problems. Pretty interesting, the Italian couldn’t afford to buy a telescope, so he understood how it works, and built one of his own.

His map of the whole moon, very accurate

“Thomas Harriot is an unsung hero of science,” Chapman said. “His drawings mark the beginning of the era of modern astronomy we now live in, where telescopes large and small give us extraordinary information about the universe we inhabit.””Thomas Harriot is an unsung hero of science,” Chapman said. “His drawings mark the beginning of the era of modern astronomy we now live in, where telescopes large and small give us extraordinary information about the universe we inhabit.”

Professor Andy Fabian, President of the Royal Astronomical Society, agrees.
“As an astrophysicist of the 21st century, I can only look back and marvel at the work of 17th century astronomers like Thomas Harriot,” Fabian said. “The world is right to celebrate Galileo in the International Year of Astronomy – but Harriot shouldn’t be forgotten!”

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. Galileo Galilei faked his own letter 400 years ago to avoid the Inquisition
  2. How Galileo Galilei’s discoveries helped create modern science
  3. Moon gravitational map vs Moon iron distribution map
  4. Machine learning corrects photos taken in complete darkness, turns them into amazingly sharp images
  5. Runner’s high is literally like smoking cannabis
Tags: Galileo GalileiMoontelescopeThomas Harriot

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW