400 years of astronomy
Definition:
400 years of astronomy means how our study of space has grown from Galileo’s first telescope to today’s modern space discoveries.
Main Points:
Galileo started modern astronomy 400 years ago.
Telescopes became better and better.
Humans went to space.
Hubble gave super clear pictures.
Today we explore planets and distant galaxies.
400 Years Ago – Galileo’s Time
In 1609, Galileo Galilei used one of the first telescopes.
He looked at the Moon, Jupiter’s moons, and sunspots.
People thought Earth was the center, but Galileo proved the Sun is the center of our solar system.
This was the beginning of modern astronomy.
2. Better Telescopes Arrived
Over the next centuries, telescopes became bigger and clearer.
Astronomers could see planets, stars, galaxies, and even nebulae.
We discovered that stars are not tiny dots—they are huge suns far away!
3. 20th Century – Space Age
Rockets took humans into space.
Astronauts landed on the Moon in 1969.
Satellites started taking pictures of Earth and space.
We could now study space from space, not just from Earth!
4. Hubble Telescope (1990)
The Hubble Space Telescope changed everything.
It captured amazing images of galaxies and stars.
It helped us learn the age of the universe (13.8 billion years).
5. Today – Super Telescopes & Space Missions
New telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope can see deeper than ever.
We are exploring Mars, moon missions, asteroids, and even searching for life on other planets.
Fun Fact :
The light from distant galaxies is so old that when we look at them, we are actually looking back in time!