Interactive Media Design

I was very excited to go to the Galileo History of Science Museum because I learned a lot about Galileo’s greatest discoveries and accomplishments and the impact of the scientific patronage of the Medici in the history of science course I took last semester. One of the pieces I found especially fascinating was the armillary sphere. Commissioned by Ferdinand I de Medici and built based on the findings of Aristotle regarding the two sphere model of the universe, a scientific concept that was developed and refined by Ptolemy. I learned that the armillary sphere was used to make observations of the heavens, specifically to observe the motions of the stars around the Earth. By using the Ptolemaic armillary sphere to observe the planetary positions relative to Earth, Ptolemy was able to support his theory of a geocentric (Earth-centered) universe. When I saw the model of the armillary sphere in person in the museum, it brought everything I learned to life and exceeded my expectations about the intricacy of a machine made in that age. Under the supervision of Antonio Santucci and requested by the Medici, the construction of this model began in 1588 and was completed in 1593. At the center of the model, the Earth is encompassed by the rings of the sphere. What astounded me about this model was its extravagant beauty and size, specifically the details of the centered Earth and gold painted rings that surrounded it. While it was a huge scientific achievement, it is also a work of art. Another piece that impressed me and brought what I learned last semester in my history of science class to life was Galileo’s telescope. Although Galileo did not invent the telescope himself, he built this telescope himself and used it to make his groundbreaking observations about the universe. I learned that Galileo’s version of the telescope was extremely significant to the development of science and astronomy as, unlike the existing instruments, his telescope was used to observe the physical features of celestial bodies. The observations Galileo made using this instrument helped support his heliocentric theory, which asserted that the Sun, not the Earth, was the center of the universe. However, Galileo was ahead of his time with his scientific beliefs as he was later tried and punished for this belief. Because of everything I learned about this instrument, it was especially fascinating to see it in person, knowing the revolutionary findings it helped Galileo come to, which subsequently led to him being disgraced in society despite the fact that he was right. In addition to these two pieces in the museum, I found it extremely interesting to read about and see so many of the earliest inventions in the development of science.