Galileo's Telescope: The Instrument that Changed the World

Between the summer and fall of the year 1609, the universe suddenly assumed a completely new physiognomy. In fact, the telescope allowed Galileo to corroborate the revolutionary theories of Nicolaus Copernicus according to which the Earth is not stationary at the centre of the universe but revolves both on its own axis and around the Sun. 400 years after those epoch-making events, the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza has conceived an exhibition on Galileo’s telescope to celebrate the Year of Astronomy 2009. The exhibition features faithful replicas of the original instruments housed in the Museo di Storia della Scienza (such as the objective lens and the only two surviving telescopes made by Galileo) plus important documents and manuscripts. Interactive exhibits and multimedia aid understanding of the optical and astronomical scientific principles. Visitors are taken on an exiting journey through time and the universe, reliving the exceptional experience of Galileo's accomplishment. The exhibition brings to light the colossal impact the telescope had on 17th-century science and society as well as the close connection between science, culture and religion during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Exhibition Dates