A Dutch lens grinder, Hans Lippershay, invented the telescope in 1608. One day Lippershay discovered accidentally that by putting lenses at both ends of a tube and then putting the tub up to his eye, he could view things "close up". He called his device a looker, and thought it would be useful in war. Galileo got hold of one, improved it a little, and then used it himself to challenge prevailing ideas about the solar system.
