The man who beat Galileo
The UK is currently engaged in an effort to subvert the celebrations for the International Year of Astronomy. While we’re clearly in favour of IYA as a whole, it appears that far too much credit is being given to that notorious Italian, Galileo. Sure, he discovered the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn, not that he knew what the latter were, but he wasn’t the first to map the Moon. That, it seems, was an englishman called Thomas Harriot.
You’ll be hearing a lot more of Harriot, but in the meantime I present my modest contribution to this rebellion : a 365 days of astronomy podcast staring everyone’s favourite astronomical historian, Allan Chapman.
(And if you haven’t already subscribed to 365 days of astronomy then you really should do. It’s the only way to include a daily dose of astronomical content in your carefully balanced diet.
