Galileo, Engineer
Galileo's Instruments
Galileo’s engineering compass, thermoscope, microscope and telescope reflect his work as a mathematician, astronomer and scientist-engineer.
Browse Items on Display
| 1 |
The Operations of the Geometrical and Military Compass, 1606 Galilei, Galileo (1606) Featuring Galileo's Handwritting. Galileo dedicated the manual for his engineering compass to young Cosimo II de Medici, whom he had tutored in mathematics the previous summer. |
 |
| 2 |
Galileo Compass replica Galileo’s engineering compass employed scales of his own innovative design, useful for an astonishing variety of calculations in the field. |
|
| 3 |
School of the Stars Capra, Baldessar (1606) Galileo kept the design of his engineering compass carefully guarded, yet a dispute over intellectual property rights ensued. In 1607, Baldassar Capra published under his own name a Latin translation of Galileo's Compasso, including instructions for making the instrument. |
|
| 4 |
Defense Against the Calumnies and Impostures of Baldessar Capra! Galileo, (1607) Featuring Galileo's Handwriting. Galileo published his second printed book to establish his priority rights and to inform Cosimo de Medici of the legal judgment against Capra. This copy, bound with the Compasso, is inscribed by Galileo to a Florentine physician. |
|
| 5 |
The Operations of the Geometrical and Military Compass, 1635 Galilei, Galileo (1635) After Capra, the design of Galileo’s compass became widely known. Later editions included illustrations of Galileo’s instrument. |
|
| 6 |
Galileo Thermoscope replica, Bizzell Memorial Library Galileo’s thermoscope, ancestor to the thermometer: Galileo pioneered scientific investigations with the thermoscope along with his two Paduan friends, Giovanni Sagredo and Santorio Santorio. |
