scientific

It turns out that this scientist was the first to draw a map of the moon, not Galileo. Twitter/Thomas Harriot; Wikipedia/Harriot’s illustration of the Moon from 1609

Reporter: Fauzan Jamaludin

Merdeka.com – The role of Galileo Galilei was so great for the world of science. Apart from his services, it turns out that there is a historical error regarding Galileo being the first person to successfully draw the moon. The fact is someone had started it before Galileo.

“The world rightfully celebrates Galileo in the International Year of Astronomy – but Thomas Harriot must not be forgotten!” said Professor Andy Fabian, President of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Who is Thomas Harriot?

Reporting from Space and ScienceDaily, Wednesday (28/6), Historian Allan Chapman called Harriot an unsung hero of science.

“These images mark the beginning of the era of modern astronomy that we live in, in which telescopes large and small are providing us with incredible information about the universe,” said Chapman.

Harriot is a British national. He is known to have made his first moon map on July 26, 1609 or more than 400 years ago.

It was several months before Galileo managed to see the moon through a telescope. Harriot for the next several decades regularly drew the moon from his research.

Harriot was briefly educated at St Mary’s Hall (now part of Oriel College), Oxford, and then continued to work as a mathematics teacher and joined Sir Walter Raleigh in his many explorations.

Because the ruler of the British empire did not like Raleigh, Raleigh was eventually imprisoned. Harriot’s fate at that time in the protection of Henry Percy. Long story short, he was one of the leading mathematical authorities in Europe at the time.

Shortly thereafter, he bought the first telescope and used it to draw pictures of the moon’s surface. He began to point his telescope at the moon and then put it in a picture.

His rough sketch of the moon, showing the rough outline of the lunar terminator (the line marking the division between night and day on the Moon, as seen from Earth) and includes details such as the dark areas of Mare Crisium, Mare Tranquilitatis and Mare Foecunditatis.

He continued his research. Creates map-like drawings from 1610 to 1613. Mentioned in various sources, not all of which are dated, but show an increased level of detail.

By 1613 he had made two maps of the entire Moon, with many identifiable details such as lunar craters crucially depicted in their correct relative positions. No better maps would be published for decades after.

Then why is it Galileo who is known?

According to Chapman, this is because Harriot never published the picture. Chapman later related Harriot’s position as a philosopher who was wealthy with a large salary of around 120 to 600 pounds per year.

It also has a special observation room. This is inversely proportional to the situation of Galileo at that time.

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Then why is it Galileo who is known?

According to Chapman, this is because Harriot never published the picture. Chapman later related Harriot’s position as a philosopher who was wealthy with a large salary of around 120 to 600 pounds per year.

It also has a special observation room. This is inversely proportional to the situation of Galileo at that time.

(mdk/phase)

2023-06-28 02:48:00
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