Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

This is a release from The Franklin.

The Franklin, the most-visited museum in Pennsylvania and a Top Twenty most visited museum in the United States*, has announced that it will be hosting an exclusive world appearance of Galileo, The Medici and The Age of Astronomy. The exhibit, timed to take place during the 400^th anniversary of Galileo’s astronomical discoveries as well as the International Year of Astronomy, will explore the extraordinary effect that Galileo’s work, as well as that of other luminaries during the age of the Medicis, had on science and on the world.

The one-time only special

This is a release from The Franklin.

The Franklin aims to harness the stars when it becomes the home of the exclusive world exhibit Galileo, The Medici and The Age of Astronomy. This unique exhibition, which features the original telescope that Galileo used, has been timed to take place during the 400^th anniversary of Galileo’s astronomical discoveries and the 75^th anniversary of The Franklin’s Planetarium.

This quadricentennial celebration of the modern era of astronomy has also inspired an extraordinary worldwide effort entitled the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009), which will be launched in early 2009 by The International

This release is from The Franklin.

The Creation of The Franklin’s newest exhibit, Galileo, The Medici and The Age of Astronomy
When The Franklin learned that the museum in Florence, Italy, which houses the Galileo telescopes, would be closed for renovations in 2009, it began a dedicated campaign to bring the original telescope exclusively to the United States. Competing with many major museums worldwide, The Franklin eventually won the right to create the unique exhibition that explores the launch of Galileo’s discoveries against the backdrop of the Medici family’s support of science and math during the Renaissance.

Galileo’s Influence
Called

This is a release from The Franklin.

• The search for Earth-like planets outside of our solar system – technological developments in recent years, including fine spectroscopic analysis, have allowed astronomers to see planets more readily. Now, planets are being discovered once a month or so – and the hunt is on for one that is closer to an Earth-like planet in composition and proximity to sun.
• The search for elemental particles – i.e. Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – Physicists believe that there is one elemental and as yet undiscovered and elusive particle that has given rise to all the other

Visitors in Philadelphia for Galileo, The Medici and The Age of Astronomy, appearing only at The Franklin Institute Science Museum only in 2009 (April 4 through September 7), will find the region loaded with places that provide a greater knowledge of the stars. Not only can visitors enjoy Galileo-inspired lectures and family-friendly workshops at The Franklin, they can also check out the region’s many space marvels, including planetariums, star-gazing parties and other after-dark activities during the International Year of Astronomy. Here’s a look:

About Space At The Franklin:

• The extensively renovated Joel N. Bloom Observatory on the rooftop of

When Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy makes its once-in-a-lifetime journey from Florence to Philadelphia for an exclusive world appearance at The Franklin Institute Science Museum, April 4 through September 7, 2009, the exhibition won’t be the only thing the sister cities have in common. The two river-side towns share similarities in geography, history, cuisine, culture and more. In fact, the close Philly-Florence connection was first established in 1964 by Sister Cities International, a creation of the Eisenhower administration. Here’s a look at just how much alike the two cities are:

Food:

• Mangia Mondo: A city of

Like so many larger-than-life figures, Galileo Galilei (February 15, 1564-January 8, 1642) made it to the top of his field through a combination of hard work and a connection to people in powerful places, specifically the Medici family.

Galileo’s parents, Giulia Ammannati and Vincenzo Galilei, a respected music teacher who conducted experiments on lute strings to support his musical theories, sent their son away from home in Florence at age 10 to study with a tutor in preparation for further education at the Camaldolese Monastery. Vincenzo wanted Galileo to become a physician, but he was intrigued by the monks and