Galileo conducted an experiment to measure the magnification of his telescope. He had an assistant hold one piece of paper close to the telescope while Galileo viewed another piece through the telescope. As the assistant moved the paper farther away, Galileo observed that the paper viewed through the telescope appeared the same size as the one held close by. By measuring and comparing the distances, Galileo was able to calculate the magnification of his telescope.

1. In 1610, When Galileo observed the sky with his telescope the stars seem
to be closer. In fact, the telescope has a magnification.
He took 2 objects with the same size (for example 2 pieces of paper). One
piece of paper was put at a great distance of the telescope (about 40m).
With one of his eyes he observed the object through the telescope. He
wrote the distance between his eye and the piece of paper
A distance =………………..m
His assistant took the other piece of paper. He stood with the paper in his
hand in front of the telescope. Galileo observed the object with his other
eye.
So with one eye he saw the first objet through the telescope and with the
other he saw the second object without the telescope.
Galileo’s assistant moved still the second object seems to have the same
size than the other.
Galileo wrote the distance between the second object and his eyes.
B distance =………………..m
The report for:
A distance/B distance= Telescope magnification
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
One of our test:
Another way to calculate magnification:
Nowadays, we know how to calculate a telescope magnification we have to find on the telescope the objective focal
length and the eyepiece focal length
here