The Englishman who beat Galileo

Our friend, Paul Sutherland, of Skymania News, has posted a most interesting article about English explorer, navigational expert, mathematician, scientist and astronomer, Thomas Harriot, who was born in Oxford about 1560. While many of us know the story of how Galileo Galilei turned his newly developed telescope at the sky and observes craters and mountains on the Moon, moving spots on the Sun, four moons revolving around Jupiter, the phases of Venus, and the almost innumerable stars of the Milky Way, it now seems he may not have been the first to do so.

Paul reports that "UK experts reveal that the more modest Thomas Harriot was sketching the Moon at least four months before Galileo from the grounds of Syon House, in Isleworth, Middlesex."

Harriot was once called "the greatest mathematician that Oxford has produced." One of his greatest works, Arcticon, was unfortunately never published and no copies have ever been found. He gave lectures to the seamen who were being gathered by Sir Walter Raleigh who were to participate in his expeditions to the New World. In fact, he was heavily involved in Raleigh's ventures. He assisted with the design of the ships and was involved in the construction of the vessels and selecting the seamen. He was also Raleigh's accountant.

Read Paul's article for more information on this amazing man.

Image Credits: Public Domain