Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

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 “the father of modern science” by Albert Einstein, Galileo and his impact go far beyond astronomy. His scientific methods, based on quantitative experiments with the idea of mathematical results, changed the course of scientific study forever. In addition to his astronomical discoveries, this Tuscan physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. Among his contributions was work on the subject of kinematics, applied science and technology.

The First Telescope?
Although officially invented in 1609 in Holland, it was Galileo who made the telescope famous in 1610. He greatly improved upon the invention’s magnification capabilities, and was the first to train it on the stars for science. Upon creating this newly powerful instrument, he applied scientific methodologies to determine new, and startling, knowledge about the cosmos. Observational astronomy discoveries include the telescopic confirmation of the phases of Venus, the discovery of the four largest satellites of Jupiter, the Galilean moons named in his honour, and the observation and analysis of sunspots.

Galileo & The Church
Recently dubbed by the Wall Street Journal as the Roman Catholic Church’s “most illustrious heretic,” Galileo was imprisoned for his statements supporting the idea that the Earth revolved around the sun. Although the Church began a “rehabilitation” of Galileo in 1992, the controversy continues to this day, with a high-profile debate being stirred up as recently as this summer when an anonymous donor to the Vatican's Pontifical Academy of Sciences offered to foot the bill for a statue of the Italian astronomer.

Franklin Awards 2009 “The Cosmos”
The Franklin Institute’s illustrious Franklin Awards has themed its 2009 major Bower award to “The Cosmos.” The winner will be announced in March 2009, with the award given in late April. Also in April, The Franklin Center will host a symposium featuring the Bower Science laureate in a high-interest public event tied to the Galileo exhibit.

International Year of Astronomy
The 400th anniversary of Galileo’s telescope will be marked by a highly organized international effort to celebrate the age of astronomy entitled the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009). The year-long worldwide event will emphasize education, public engagement, and the participation of young people. UNESCO has endorsed IYA2009. As host of the Galileo exhibition, the Franklin was the natural location for the kick-off of one of IYA2009’s 11 global cornerstone projects—100 Hours of Astronomy (100HA, www.100hoursofastronomy.org). From April 2-5, science centers, observatories, astronomy clubs, and other organizations around the world will participate in 100 continuous hours of public outreach events. Research observatories will host live webcasts. The Sidewalk Astronomers and Astronomers Without Borders will sponsor sidewalk observing events to allow as many people as possible to look through a telescope, just as Galileo did 400 years ago.

The Franklin’s Fels Planetarium 75^th Anniversary
The Franklin’s Fels Planetarium is the second oldest planetarium in the country, and the oldest and most extensive planetarium/observatory combination in the United States. This unique combination means that visitors not only learn about astronomy, but are allowed to discover it for themselves through hands-on experiences. Like Galileo, visitors can look through the observatory telescope to see the moon or Jupiter or Saturn during The Franklin’s monthly “Night Skies in the Observatory” program. Visitors come from up and down the East Coast for these unique evenings, hosted by The Franklin Institute’s chief astronomer, Derrick Pitts. Pitts, often a guest on major national television programs, is known for his ability to break down complicated scientific issues in an easy and entertaining manner that inspires interest. The observatory is also known for its unrivaled dedication to open every day the sky is clear for direct (filtered) solar observation.

Contact(s):

• Kat Stein, (215) 448-2375
• Donna Schorr, (215) 599-0782