It was in the sixteenth century that Galileo Galilei invented the telescope. The device has never looked back since then. Galileo wanted something which he could use to look at stars in a bit more detail. He built the telescope which has since been through a number of changes and has grown in power to a very high degree.
The main principle behind the telescope has not changed since Galileo invented one for himself. This principle is that in case two lenses are held at a particular position in front of the human eye, they would be able to collect a lot more light than the human eye can collect without such an aid. The main job of the lenses is to collect and focus the light in such a manner that it can form a bright, magnified image of the subject at whom lenses are trained.
The main principle behind these telescopes was the refraction or bending of light that is gathered. Gradually, these telescopes were colloquially known as refraction telescopes or in some cases, just as refractors.
With the passage of time, more changes were noticed and the telescopes were made upon principles far more advanced then reflection or refraction. Even though they remain two of the basic principles around which the modern day amateur telescopes work, the professionals have graduated to radio telescopes, infrared telescopes and the like. The need to peep deeper into the sky has also led to increase in the size of telescopes.
Today the main users of advanced level telescopes are research institutions and government sponsored space bodies like NASA. These organizations have the technology, resources and to a certain extent, the need to mount large telescopes like the Hubble space telescope. Today a number of telescopes are able to capture detailed space information. Some of the most advanced devices can capture images of bodies that are many parsecs away.
On more milestone was reached in the history of telescopes when some hit upon the idea that if a camera is somehow made to take advantage of a telescope, it can be great. This was the concept which led to the birth of astrophotography. As times changed and the advancements were made to both- the technology of photography and that of telescopes, people have been able to shoot some of the best photographs ever.
There are a number of people who are interested in star gazing. Galileo's invention of telescope was the harbinger of the age of science and the movement of human civilization a long leap forward. No telescope would have meant that man would never have been able to do space walks or land on the moon. The role of telescope has been remarkable.
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