Galileo telescope replicaOn this day Aug 25th 1609 Galileo Galilei presented the world with the first commercial terrestrial telescope – the Spyglass (Though I wonder how do you really know for sure 400 years ago it was this day exactly? Hmmm…)

Quite amazing if you think about it. Galileo’s leather and wood contraption all the way to today’s Hubble telescope? AND it also happens to be Lady Bug’s 3rd birthday too. I know, I know. You are wondering how the Wyf and I planned that so well and, hmm, I am not sure really, but its cool ;o).

 Anyway, the spyglass was not originally developed to look at the stars. He had sold it to the Venetian Senate as a way to spot the Turks, who kept raiding their ships (pesky Turks). It was the first telescope of the time that did not have its images upside down and this was the greatest feature ever invented until sliced bread was first introduced 319 years late in Missouri on July 7, 1928.

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