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Through the looking glass: The evolution of Telescopes

By Christopher Flynn

  • First Telescope

    First Telescope
    Upon hear Hans Lippershay's request for an object “for seeing things far away as they were nearby.”, Galileo Galilei invents the first telescope. He used the telescope to map the sunspots on the sun, the phases of Venus, and the features of the Moon, including surface feature. "Telescope Timeline - Astronomy For Kids." Astronomy for Kids. KidsKnowItNetwork, 2015. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.

  • Chromatic Aberration

    Chromatic Aberration
    Isaac Newton decides that chromatic aberration (When a picture blurs due to improper wavelengths) is a problem. He then makes an improved version of the reflecting telescope which solves the problem of chromatic aberration. Specific date unknown. "Telescope Timeline - Astronomy For Kids." Astronomy for Kids. KidsKnowItNetwork, 2015. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.

  • William Hershel

    William Hershel
    Astronomer William Herschel builds a reflector telescope which is a gigantic 12-metres. It was the first of the giant reflector telescopes. He discovered some of Saturns moons with it. This type of design is later credited as the Herschelian telescope. "Telescope Timeline - Astronomy For Kids." Astronomy for Kids. KidsKnowItNetwork, 2015. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.

  • Leviathan of Parsonstown

    Leviathan of Parsonstown
    Leviathan of Parsonstown at Birr Castle in Ireland was built by William Parsons. It was the largest telescope ever built in the nineteenth century. Parsons saw the spiral arms on a galaxy with the Leviathan of Parsontown. The exact date of its release is unknown. "Telescope Timeline - Astronomy For Kids." Astronomy for Kids. KidsKnowItNetwork, 2015. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.

  • Hubble Space Telescope

    Hubble Space Telescope
    Hubble gives us a clear view of the stars and planets near our corner of the universe. This was the first telescope ever launched into space. This made the world think differently about how telescopes show us the outside from the inside, but with Hubble, it was the outside from the outside. "Telescope Timeline - Astronomy For Kids." Astronomy for Kids. KidsKnowItNetwork, 2015. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.

  • Gran Telescopio Canarias

    Gran Telescopio Canarias
    The Gran Telescopio Canarias was built in the Canary Islands of Spain on the top of a volcanic peak. It is the largest telescope currently. It discovered multiple nebulae and galaxies. "Telescope Timeline - Astronomy For Kids." Astronomy for Kids. KidsKnowItNetwork, 2015. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.