The Telescope is 400 Years Old

The First Essential Scary Truth

December 21 marked the 400th anniversary of Galileo first use of the telescope.

400 years since one man’s invention allowed the human race to see past the limits of our own horizon into space.  Planets, stars, galaxies, what have you, are now all within our (visual) reach.  Thanks to this one simple invention, we have been able to put a man on the moon, among other amazing feats.

Of course, at the time, there was a downside.  

The telescope was the instrument that allowed Copernicus to prove his theory that the earth revolved around the sun correct.  Galileo, of course, back this simple fact of gravity.  What did Galileo get for his trouble to expand the realm scientific study, excommunication from the Catholic Church? 

At the time, the Church felt the sun revolved around the earth.  In retrospect, this makes sense as the Roman Catholic Church felt the world of human beings revolved around it.  Shortly before Galileo was thrown out of his church for crimes against G-d, the Church split the known world between Spain and Portugal.

It would take until 1992 for Pope John Paul II to reinstate Galileo to a Catholic in good standing and offer the apologies of the Church.

Human beings.  Are we a narcissistic race or what?

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