Improved Astronomical Instruments

Definition

These are the advanced tools and devices developed during the Scientific Revolution that allowed for more accurate observations of celestial bodies. They include telescopes, sextants, and astrolabes.

Analogy

Think of improved astronomical instruments like upgrading from a basic cell phone to a smartphone. Just as a smartphone allows you to do so much more than just make calls (like browsing the internet, taking high-quality photos, using GPS), these improved instruments allowed astronomers to do much more than just look at stars - they could measure distances, calculate orbits, and make far more precise observations.

Related terms

Telescope: An optical instrument designed to make distant objects appear closer and larger by use of a combination of lenses or mirrors.

Sextant: A navigational instrument used primarily for measuring the angle between two visible objects.

Astrolabe: An ancient device used before the invention of the sextant for observing the relative positions of celestial bodies; it was an important tool in navigation and astronomy.