Lippershey, Schmippershey

I failed Astronomy. How could a Star Trek fan, Science Fiction fanatic, meteor shower and moon phase follower,  Nasa.gov and Astronomy Picture of the Day addict fail Astronomy?  I learned the hard way that more than fifteen class hours is far too much given my familial responsibilities and other obligations.  As  College textbooks are notorious for changing editions every other year or so, and with some rudimentary Astronomy still lurking about in my head, I promptly signed up to retake the class this semester.

Photo Courtesy of NASA

Of the six Core Adult Learning Principles by Malcolm S. Knowles, number six, Motivation to Learn: intrinsic value and personal payoff, seems most applicable. Knowing that we are all made of stars and my affinity for all things space, is in itself, my intrinsic. Passing this class and passing with a better than average grade, well that, is my personal payoff.

In class, I hang on every word, furiously take notes, refuse to let my mind wander and I refrain from asking too many questions.  It was in this quasi-maniacal state,  during a lecture on Gallileo and the telescope, that I fell of the wagon, so to speak.

"Does anybody know who invented the telescope?" Professor asked the class. "Lippershey?" someone responded. "That's right, in the 1600's." "Wait a minute!" a voice in my head screamed "Didn't I see something on The History Channel about Ancient Astronomers and wasn't there glass making technology in ancient times?" And yes, to my horror, that voice escaped my head and flew right out of my mouth. My poor patient Professor just looked at me and said "Yes, but they would have had to been able to make convex lenses." "I'll look it up." I said sheepishly.

Enter Knowles' Principle one: the Learners Need to Know. Why did I know something different than what was being taught in a college classroom. What is the actual truth? And how will this added, albeit oppositional information, benefit me? That night I came home and did some serious research on ancient astronomy, ancient observatories and glass making techniques.

The information I found was startling. Most notable was an article from The Astronomical Society of New South Whales. An ancient observatory was discovered in Baghdad, circa 600 B.C. More importantly, there was evidence of a Herschellian telescope. The finding of this and other information gives me, the Adult Learner, a sense of control of my learning. According to Knowles, "...individuals want to have control over their learning based on their personal goals... learning will increase as a result" (Knowles, p 123).

So, does all this added information benefit me? I'll let you know after my first "A."

Look What I Found

Use these links to draw your own conclusions. As my Oma always said "God gave you a brain, use it."

"The oldest fragments of glass vases (evidence of the origins of the hollow glass industry), however, date back to the 16th century BC and were found in Mesopotamia"


"One of the most famous ancient lenses is a small piece of shaped rock crystal, thicker in the middle than at the edge, and dating to the seventh century BC."

In his book 'The Crystal Sun', author Robert Temple describes more than 450 lenses and magnifying glasses, dating back as far as 3300 BC, retrieved from archaeological sites from Crete to Turkey to Carthage.

Ten Ancient Observatories Spied from Space

Hans Lippershey Biography

Telescopes and the Ancients by Larry Brian Radka

Be sure to scroll down to "V. Of Experiments in Artificial Sight" in the article Telescopes, Lenses and Other Ancient Technology mentioned by Roger Bacon.
The Babylonian Seal pictured really sold me.

Hubblesite

Study Break: We Are All Made of Stars by Moby   Put your headphones on and Dance!