subject: Binoculars and Telescopes--Their History [print this page] Binoculars and Telescopes--Their History Binoculars and Telescopes--Their History
The creation of so many optical instruments nowadays had been traced to the creation of ordinary telescope and binoculars on the early centuries. Telescopes and binoculars are classified as optical instruments. The presence of a telescope and a binocular are extremely beneficial in the work of many individual. Since both are considered to be optical instruments, they are both used to magnify objects that are in a far area or location. Telescopes on the other hand, records object, transmit and reflect them using visible radiation. Although they are used alternately, there are advantages of one instrument from the other.
Before tracing down the roots or history of these two valued optical instruments, let us see some of the difference between a telescope and a binocular. If you ask a lot of people about ease of use, many of them will choose binoculars. This is because viewing with the use of two eyes is more comfortable compared to the use of a single eye in using a telescope. People can use a binocular for a long period compared to using a telescope. One of the difference also between the two is the perceived contrast and color that is improved. For a nearer object, binoculars are being used because of the 40% advantage that it allows the user when it comes to color and contrast.
There are so many optical instruments today that are being used in many studies. Some of the instruments that scientist use includes camera testing, alignment telescope, telescopes, interferometers, camera test pattern, autocollimator and camera software. If we take a closer look into the history of telescopes and binoculars, we can see that the original idea to create the first telescope came from the brilliant inventor Hans Lippershey. Although his invention was not approved for a patent because of poor quality, Galileo reinvented the concept, and he successfully used the instrument he called as "looking-glass" in observing heavenly bodies.
Many people believed that the concept of a telescope originated from his brilliant thinking ability because of the things that he discovered in using his "looking glass" instrument. With the use of the instrument that Galileo created, he was able to discover the four moons in the planet Jupiter. In addition to his enormous contribution, he was also the reason why we know that the planet Saturn has rings on it and also he discovered the sunspots. Galileo's concept of the telescope is just like a pair of opera glasses.
Since we have accomplished thinkers in history, many of them tried to create their own version of the telescope. For example, the Prince Frederick Sesi of Venice, who improved the convex and concave lenses of the telescope. Johannes Kepler added an additional prism behind the eyepiece. The famous scientist Sir Isaac Newton, makes use of tin and mirrors to achieve a greater magnification that will produce a reflective telescope way back 1668. Another prominent astronomer named William Herschel was able to create a forty-foot long telescope that he uses in his work. The huge telescope that he was able to discover is also being used in some observatories nowadays.
The creation of optical instruments dated on the early 1600 era but up to now, the concept that those influential thinkers have applied in their discoveries are still considered the basic of modern optics today. Their inventions and concepts benefit us today. The concepts of light, optics, observing far objects and optical-related instruments are now being used in so many areas of study that includes quantum mechanics, nuclear, physics, bio-molecular interactions, particle physics, seismology, plasma physics, fiber optics, remote sensing, astronomy, oceanography and astronomy.
The concept of optics and the creation of binoculars and telescopes resulted in the development of sophisticated and high-precision optical instruments. There are many distinguished scientists and inventors even today that are able to develop optical instruments just like the microscope, autocollimator, camera, alignment telescopes and many more that are proven helpful in many studies.
