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The refracting (lens) telescope was invented in the 1600's, with the reflecting (mirror) variant a few decades later. Prior to that, naked eye observations had to suffice, but with a keen eye, several important observations were possible.

An early instrumental observation of importance, was Ole Romer making measurements of the rotation of the moons of Jupiter.

Nevertheless, folk without optical instruments, such as the Chinese and the Polynesians, were able to navigate accurately by star sightings.

From the discrepancies of the Io eclipses, comparing the times when Jupiter was moving away to those when Jupiter was moving closer, Rome was able to deduce the speed of light.

A very important observation in the days before accurate chronometers. In those times, the movement of the heavenly bodies was the most accurate 'clock' known.

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How did people observe stars during the 1600's?

The telescope was invented in 1620 so they used that. Man's observation of the stars and planets has been going on thousands of years.


In what ways are the moons stars and planets interrelated?

Moons are natural satellites that orbit planets, planets orbit stars like our Sun, and stars are part of galaxies that contain planets and moons. Moons are gravitationally bound to planets while planets are gravitationally bound to stars. All three are part of the same interconnected celestial system.


How did people study stars 100 years ago?

People studied stars 100 years ago using telescopes, photographic plates, and spectroscopes. They would observe the positions, motions, and spectra of stars to better understand their characteristics, such as temperature, composition, and distance. This observational data was then analyzed and interpreted to advance our knowledge of the universe.


Are all stars and planets are about the same age?

All of the planets are in the same atmosphere. All of the planets are unique. All of the planets are considered planets. All of the planets have moons. All of the planets are named after a mythical person or thing.


How did people study stars 200 years ago?

People studied stars 200 years ago primarily through the use of telescopes equipped with lenses and mirrors to observe and analyze the positions, movements, and characteristics of stars. They also relied on manual calculations and observations to track the movements of stars in the night sky over time. Astronomy was a combination of observation, mathematics, and theory to understand the nature of stars.

Related Questions

How many years after Luthers criticism did Galileo begin to study planets?

How many years after Luther’s criticism did Galileo begin to study planets?


How did people observe stars during the 1600's?

The telescope was invented in 1620 so they used that. Man's observation of the stars and planets has been going on thousands of years.


Why did sailors use the stars and not the planets to find their way at sea?

Because stars not like planets revolve and stars last at the night sky for many many years even at your lifetime.


Are planets older than stars?

No. Planets are formed after stars are and in most cases planets are consumed by the same star. Some stars can exist long after they have exhausted their supply of hydrogen and heavier element as red giants. Some even may last over 100 of trillions of years.


When should you use light years?

Light years are used to measure distance from Earth to distant stars and planets.


In what ways are the moons stars and planets interrelated?

Moons are natural satellites that orbit planets, planets orbit stars like our Sun, and stars are part of galaxies that contain planets and moons. Moons are gravitationally bound to planets while planets are gravitationally bound to stars. All three are part of the same interconnected celestial system.


How did people study stars 100 years ago?

People studied stars 100 years ago using telescopes, photographic plates, and spectroscopes. They would observe the positions, motions, and spectra of stars to better understand their characteristics, such as temperature, composition, and distance. This observational data was then analyzed and interpreted to advance our knowledge of the universe.


Are all stars and planets are about the same age?

All of the planets are in the same atmosphere. All of the planets are unique. All of the planets are considered planets. All of the planets have moons. All of the planets are named after a mythical person or thing.


How did people study stars 200 years ago?

People studied stars 200 years ago primarily through the use of telescopes equipped with lenses and mirrors to observe and analyze the positions, movements, and characteristics of stars. They also relied on manual calculations and observations to track the movements of stars in the night sky over time. Astronomy was a combination of observation, mathematics, and theory to understand the nature of stars.


Why are stars brighter than planets?

They are a lot closer than the stars. The nearest star, Alpha Proxima is 4 light years away. The planets are at most a few light hours away. Although they don't emit light, several of them have cloudy or sandy surfaces, making them highly reflective of sunlight. Some planets seem brighter - not all of them. Planets are quite near to us, as compared to the stars.


Are there other stars that have planets apart from the sun?

Scientists used to wonder; are planets rare, or are they common? Arguments went both ways. But over the past 10 years or so, we have discovered over 300 planets orbiting other stars. With the rapid improvement in space-based telescopes and better image processing software, it begins to look like planets, and planetary systems, may be the norm; that single stars without planets may be the unusual case.


Compare the distance between two stars and the distance between two planets?

The distance between two stars is typically much greater than the distance between two planets. Stars are usually light-years apart, while planets in the same star system are typically within a few astronomical units of each other.