When human beings look up at the starry sky, they do not just rely on their eyes. In order to see further and more clearly, humans have studied many tools for observing the universe. The telescope is one of the most important observation tools that has been used for hundreds of years to explore the mysteries of space.
Prior to the invention of the telescope, the ancient civilizations used various methods for astronomical observations. Physical observation was one such method where the wise ancients would use a wooden stick on the ground to imitate the arrangement of the starry sky to draw the shape of the sky to understand astrology.
The other method was text observation, which involved studying records of astronomy in ancient astronomical works to record astronomical events without having to observe them yourself.
Throughout history, humans have used the most advanced technology of the time to make exquisite instruments and explore the limits of the universe.
Stonehenge in England is considered a Stone Age observatory, while ancient astronomers used instruments such as celestial globes and sextants to improve the accuracy of observations and discover many constellations, planets, and astronomical phenomena.
Ancient Greek astronomers proposed the geocentric theory and the laws of celestial bodies, which laid the foundation for modern astronomy.
Among the many observation instruments, the telescope is one that can see distant objects and has greatly promoted our ability to explore space. The invention of the telescope allowed humans to observe farther and more detailed starry sky.
In 1609, the astronomer Galileo used a telescope to observe the surface of Jupiter's moon and moon for the first time, which was a major breakthrough in human astronomy.
Subsequently, astronomers developed more advanced telescopes, such as reflecting telescopes, refracting telescopes, and solar telescopes, which further improved the accuracy of observations.
In the 18th century, through long-term observation and calculation, astronomers Meishu and Halley discovered the laws of motion of some stars, thus opening the door to the study of starry sky motion.
In the 19th century, the astronomer von Struve divided the optical path of the telescope into multiple channels, allowing multiple telescopes to observe the same celestial body at the same time, thus improving the efficiency of observing the starry sky.
In the 20th century, with the continuous development of science and technology, human beings observed the starry sky in more diversified and precise ways.
The launch and operation of artificial satellites allowed us to observe celestial bodies far away from the Earth, such as the central region of the Milky Way, black holes, and pulsars. Radio telescopes can observe astronomical phenomena in the radio band, such as radio sources and radio galaxies in the central region of the Milky Way.
At the same time, the development of computer technology has enabled humans to conduct more complex and precise analysis and processing of observation data, thereby deepening the understanding of the starry sky.
Human beings have been using various methods to explore the universe since ancient times. The telescope is one of the most important instruments that has been used for hundreds of years to observe the starry sky, leading to significant breakthroughs in human astronomy.
With the continuous development of science and technology, humans have been able to explore the universe in more diversified and precise ways, which has deepened our understanding of the cosmos.