World's oldest telescope?According to Professor Giovanni Pettinato of the University of Rome, a rock crystal lens, currently on show in the British museum, could rewrite the history of science. He believes that it could explain why the ancient Assyrians knew so much about astronomy. It is a theory many scientists might be prepared to accept, but the idea that the rock crystal was part of a telescope is something else. To get from a lens to a telescope, they say, is an enormous leap. Professor Pettinato counters by asking for an explanation of how the ancient Assyrians regarded the planet Saturn as a god surrounded by a ring of serpents?
by Dr David Whitehouse
Thursday, July 1, 1999
I was so excited when I saw that this really was officially done! AWSOME, APOD LIVES!!! :) Life is good. Well, better anyway. :) Thank you. I will use my new favorite word. Awesomesauce!
AWESOME PIC!!!!!!!!!
Great to see the APOD back!
I was wondering where you were earlier this evening. My apologies for ever doubting you. lol
PS: Enceladus is one of the more fascinating moons in our Solar System. Makes for a great first ping to the list! Very cool pic with the upper atmosphere of Saturn too!
Please add me to your ping list..need something besides POLITICS to enjoy....
I wonder if science will ever catch up with the output from Cassini. What an incredible mission it has been already, and it has already sent back enough data for a Legion of Phd’s....
Amazing image....
Aren’t there pictures which show some of the rings around Saturn interweaving with each other like serpents?
Awesome! You are reviving APOD? This is going to be a daily thread again?!?! WOOHOO! Sign me up!!!
Think I saw this pic in one of the Star Trek movies.
“...how the ancient Assyrians regarded the planet Saturn as a god surrounded by a ring of serpents?”
Perhaps they had really active imaginations?
Ping me please
What’s this PC BS about Kilometers? We’re not British. Try converting kilometers to miles. It makes more sense to use miles for long distances. You know that you can drive a mile a minute (i.e. 5,000+ ft). How many kilometers can you travel in a minute, and who cares?
THe speed of light is in miles per year, not kilometers.
What’s this PC BS about Kilometers? We’re not British. Try converting kilometers to miles. It makes more sense to use miles for long distances. You know that you can drive a mile a minute (i.e. 5,000+ ft). How many kilometers can you travel in a minute, and who cares?
THe speed of light is in miles per year, not kilometers.