# The telescope (2 October 1608)

URL: https://allhistories.com/netherlands/timeline/1608-the-telescope
Themes: main-event

On 2 October 1608 Hans Lipperhey, a spectacle-maker in Middelburg, applied to the States General for a patent on an instrument 'for seeing things far away as if they were nearby'. Other Dutch makers claimed the same invention, and the patent was refused. News of the Dutch 'perspective glass' spread rapidly. In 1609 Galileo built his own version and turned it to the sky, discovering the moons of Jupiter. The Dutch telescope changed astronomy and science for ever.

## Why it matters
The Dutch telescope changed astronomy and science for ever.

Who Was in Power: [Maurice](https://allhistories.com/netherlands/rulers/maurice)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Hans Lipperhey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Lipperhey)
- [Wikipedia — History of the telescope](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_telescope)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Low Countries: the revolt and the formation of the Republic (1567–79)](https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-the-Low-Countries-prehistoric-times-to-1579-2157575/The-revolt-and-the-formation-of-the-Republic-1567-79)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — The telescope](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=The+telescope)
- [Wikipedia — Eighty Years' War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighty_Years'_War)
- [Wikipedia — History of the Netherlands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Netherlands)