The Observatory

Man's quest to look at the heavens has driven many developments in the history of optics. This section of the MusEYEum website considers the topic of astronomical optics. We hope it won't leave you seeing stars!

  1. Astronomical optics

    Astronomical optics

    How lenses brought the stars and planets closer.

  2. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

    Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

    He turned a telescope up to the night sky.

  3. Newton and the colour of light

    Newton and the colour of light

    Why cutting a hole in your mum's shutters is good science.

  4. Telescopes

    Telescopes

    400 years of tubes, objectives and eyepieces.

  5. Spectroscopy

    Spectroscopy

    A surprisingly popular page on our website.

  6. Eclipse viewers

    Eclipse viewers

    How not to ruin your eye-sight.