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Science 29 May 2009:
Vol. 324. no. 5931, pp. 1149 - 1150
DOI: 10.1126/science.1172000
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Perspectives

Astronomy:

Celebrating the 400th Anniversary of Telescope Astronomy

Giovanni F. Bignami

Science authors laboring under the oppressive yoke of refereeing should think back to the time when Galileo Galilei brought his manuscript to printer Baglioni in Venice at the end of February 1610. The referee for his Sidereus Nuncius—a short treatise based on his first observations made through a telescope—was to be the office of the Holy Inquisition. Galileo knew that those referees didn't simply reject what they didn't like: They might invite you in for a few questions. But that time he was in luck. On 1 March, the Venice Council, on advice of the local Inquisitor, gave its consent.

Accademia dei Lincei, Palazzo Corsini, Via della Lungara, 10-00165 Roma, and Instituto Universitario di Studi Superiori, 56, Lungo Ticino Sforza, Pavia, 27100 Italy.

E-mail: giovanni.bignami{at}gmail.com

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)