A Brief History of the Telescope

Almost everyone who finds great interest in the sciences is familiar with the telescope, what it does, and what it is used for. But when did the idea of a device that has the capability to magnify distant objects and phenomena first came into the picture? When you talk about the ideas per se, we would have to give credit to Roger Bacon. He was an English scientist and philosopher who first laid out the basic principles about the functions of light and its magnification during the thirteenth century. So who made the first telescope?

Well, history has it that it was not technically an astronomer, not even a scientist, who was able to make the very first telescope. On the contrary, a Dutch lens maker named Hans Lippershey was the one who first observed that things that are reflected on two mirrors held within a particular distance from each other produced a magnifying effect on the image of that object. Because of that amazing new discovery, the Dutch lens maker mounted the two lenses on a tube and was able to construct, very crudely, the very first refracting-type telescope of the world.

But in contrast with the conventional perception, telescopes are not always used to study the heavens. The first ever telescopes were made primarily for military use and purpose – you can just imagine how strategic and efficient the telescope was in telling the generals and captains if there were any dangers coming from a distance.  And because the telescope has proved to be a very useful piece of material – way back from its humble beginning inside the small workshop of the Dutch lens maker – the news of having a very powerful observing tool spread like wildfire through Western Europe in no time.

The first use of a telescope for purely scientific purposes was recorded during the sixteenth century, under the hands of the Italian scientist, Galileo Galilee. He and his equally popular colleague Johannes Kepler made important observations of the planets and their movements, revealing the true position of the earth and the sun in the process. The work of Galileo and Kepler were used to its full potential extent by Isaac Newton, and English scientist who is now considered as one of the best contributors in the world of modern physics and astronomy.

During the seventeenth century, the simple Dutch-made telescope was provided with a new name. it was during this time that the technology of making telescopes were in great heights. In 1663, an astronomer and scientist named James Gregory made the very first reflecting-type telescope. The early versions of the reflecting telescope were generally made from a mixture of copper and tin.

Today, telescopes are more advanced and are made using modern methods. Most major universities at least have one prime telescope used for their independent studies.

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