When was the telescope invented?

I thought it was around 1607, but in Channel 4's "Elizabeth" Leicester
is shown looking through his telescope to identify one of Drake's
sailing ships returning from defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588.

--

Peter

There is an archeological find of lenses from Gotlandia in Sweden. These

so-called Visby lenses can be dated to the second half of the 11th century.

The one half is near a perfect ellipsoid and the other flat, making a

perfect tool for handling light beams. Some of these lenses have a silver

mounting and have been used as pendants. There are also unmounted lenses

that may have been used as a loupe. It has been speculated to be components

from an ancient telescope. However, if it would be, maybe it was something

imported from the Middle East and it was forgotten until about 1600.

The earliest documented telescope was that of Roger Bacon in the 13th

century. It is quite certain that prior to 1600 the telescope was unknown,

except to individuals who failed to see its practical importance, and who

confined its usage to curious practices or to demonstrations of "natural

magic."

The practical invention of the instrument was certainly made in the

Netherlands about 1608, but the credit of the original invention has been

claimed on behalf of three individuals, Hans Lippershey and Zacharias

Jansen, spectacle-makers in Middelburg, and James Metius of Alkmaar.

Hope this helps





Andy

"Peter Hayes" wrote in message
news:1h3t31n.gjp65t1hsejgqN%not_in_use@btinternet. com...
I thought it was around 1607, but in Channel 4's "Elizabeth" Leicester
is shown looking through his telescope to identify one of Drake's
sailing ships returning from defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588.

--

Peter

I thought it was around 1607, but in Channel 4's "Elizabeth" Leicester
is shown looking through his telescope to identify one of Drake's
sailing ships returning from defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588.


One scene in the program had some modern welded steel railings
but I doubt they were around in 1588.

Urban Spaceman wrote:

There is an archeological find of lenses from Gotlandia in Sweden. These
so-called Visby lenses can be dated to the second half of the 11th century.
The one half is near a perfect ellipsoid and the other flat, making a
perfect tool for handling light beams. Some of these lenses have a silver
mounting and have been used as pendants. There are also unmounted lenses
that may have been used as a loupe. It has been speculated to be components
from an ancient telescope. However, if it would be, maybe it was something
imported from the Middle East and it was forgotten until about 1600.
The earliest documented telescope was that of Roger Bacon in the 13th
century. It is quite certain that prior to 1600 the telescope was unknown,
except to individuals who failed to see its practical importance, and who
confined its usage to curious practices or to demonstrations of "natural
magic."

The practical invention of the instrument was certainly made in the
Netherlands about 1608, but the credit of the original invention has been
claimed on behalf of three individuals, Hans Lippershey and Zacharias
Jansen, spectacle-makers in Middelburg,

I remember reading years ago that it was supposedly Lippershey's
children that discovered the telescope effect while playing with their
father's spectacle lenses.

and James Metius of Alkmaar.

Hope this helps





Andy

"Peter Hayes" wrote in message
news:1h3t31n.gjp65t1hsejgqN%not_in_use@btinternet. com...
I thought it was around 1607, but in Channel 4's "Elizabeth" Leicester
is shown looking through his telescope to identify one of Drake's
sailing ships returning from defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588.

--

Peter


--

Peter

"Les" wrote in message
...
I thought it was around 1607, but in Channel 4's "Elizabeth" Leicester
is shown looking through his telescope to identify one of Drake's
sailing ships returning from defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588.


One scene in the program had some modern welded steel railings
but I doubt they were around in 1588.



ER (Elizabeth I ? ) was seen in that ch4 piece
using a fork to eat with.
ER 1533 - 1603
First reference in England to dining forks was 1611
and not in common use until 1660s

"Paul Nutteing" wrote in message
...
"Les" wrote in message
...
I thought it was around 1607, but in Channel 4's "Elizabeth" Leicester
is shown looking through his telescope to identify one of Drake's
sailing ships returning from defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588.


One scene in the program had some modern welded steel railings
but I doubt they were around in 1588.



ER (Elizabeth I ? ) was seen in that ch4 piece
using a fork to eat with.
ER 1533 - 1603
First reference in England to dining forks was 1611
and not in common use until 1660s


That's because you were considered a sissy to use a fork. Forks appeared
in the new world much much later. hence the american habit of cutting the
food first and then lay your knife down to use the fork. This is because a
spoon would have been used in place of the fork

"Peter Hayes" wrote in message
news:1h3t31n.gjp65t1hsejgqN%not_in_use@btinternet. com...
I thought it was around 1607, but in Channel 4's "Elizabeth" Leicester
is shown looking through his telescope to identify one of Drake's
sailing ships returning from defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588.

--

Peter

Is it not a case of "which type of telescope" was invented...

Rather like the mistake people make quoting John Logey Baird as the inventor
of the television or Frank Whittle as the inventor of the jet engine. These
people may have invented a "version" of what we use today, but not
necessarily using the same princple as that commonly used today. For example
Logey Bairds system was mechanical and the version of TV we use today is
based on that invented by Farnsworth/Zworykwin (you could even argue a case
for Belin who held the patent for fibre optics and pictures sent by wire)
although very few people will have heard of Farnsworth.

Arthur C Clarke is associated with the idea of geostationary satellites, but
I'm sure I've read the idea was around before he thought it up.


Martin

In message , Martin
writes

Rather like the mistake people make quoting John Logey Baird as the inventor
of the television or Frank Whittle as the inventor of the jet engine.

But Frank Whittle _was_ the first person to patent a design which is
essentially the same as a modern turbojet. After doing a bit of
searching I'm guessing this is GB347206
http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=GB347206&F=0


Arthur C Clarke is associated with the idea of geostationary satellites, but
I'm sure I've read the idea was around before he thought it up.

As Sir Arthur would be the first to admit, but he seems to have been
first with the idea of using them for radio communication.
--
Boycott Yahoo!
Remove spam and invalid from address to reply.

"Jonathan Silverlight" wrote
in message ...
In message , Martin
writes

Rather like the mistake people make quoting John Logey Baird as the
inventor
of the television or Frank Whittle as the inventor of the jet engine.

But Frank Whittle _was_ the first person to patent a design which is
essentially the same as a modern turbojet. After doing a bit of searching
I'm guessing this is GB347206
http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=GB347206&F=0


Arthur C Clarke is associated with the idea of geostationary satellites,
but
I'm sure I've read the idea was around before he thought it up.

As Sir Arthur would be the first to admit, but he seems to have been first
with the idea of using them for radio communication.
--
Boycott Yahoo!
Remove spam and invalid from address to reply.


Frank Whittle's design used a centrifugal compressor, which is not commonly
seen on a modern aero engine. The Germans developed the axial flow engine,
which is the type seen on a modern aero engine. Centrifugal compressor
engines were bulky and less efficient, but more robust. They were used for
some time early on, but eventually they fell out of favour exept for some
specialist roles.

1942 - Dr. Franz Anslem developed the axial-flow turbojet, Junkers Jumo 004,
used in the Messerschmitt Me 262, the world's first operational jet fighter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Bit like comparing a Newtonian telesope with a Refractor, they might do the
same job but get there is a very different way.

Whittle gets the credit because the Germans lost the war!!!

Martin

In message , Martin
writes

"Jonathan Silverlight" wrote
in message ...
In message , Martin
writes

Rather like the mistake people make quoting John Logey Baird as the
inventor
of the television or Frank Whittle as the inventor of the jet engine.

But Frank Whittle _was_ the first person to patent a design which is
essentially the same as a modern turbojet. After doing a bit of searching
I'm guessing this is GB347206
http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=GB347206&F=0


Whittle gets the credit because the Germans lost the war!!!


Sir Frank gets the credit because he was first. With a bit more support
(as in the case of the case of the Miles M52, which could have been the
world's first supersonic aircraft) we could have had the first jet
aircraft. The Germans independently invented a jet engine and used it in
the first jet. Live with it.