On January 7, 1610, Galileo was the first person to train a telescope on Jupiter—and what he saw surprised him. Strung in a line beside the planet were three tiny stars, one to the left of the planet and two to the right. But when he observed the formation the next night, he saw that now all three were on the same side of Jupiter. Over the following week, he watched as the tiny stars (now joined by a fourth) changed their position relative to the planet while remaining beside it. By January 15, he had it figured out: he was observing four moons orbiting Jupiter.
Jupiter and the Galilean moons
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Trevi in bloom
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Celebrating National Park Week, April 21-29
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Fall comes to Pando
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It’s surströmming time
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The roots of invention
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Bridge of Hillsborough County
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Longer days mean warmer sand
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Let the holiday shopping commence
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May the Fourth be with you…
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Te Rewa Rewa Bridge near New Plymouth, New Zealand
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Let the games begin
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Indigenous Peoples Day
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A wonder in winter
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In the path of the pronghorn
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It’s Draw a Bird Day
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The confluence of the Arve and Rhône Rivers
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Commemorating peace in Antarctica
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Where the glow of the holidays lingers
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Red skies at Ruby Beach
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Walking among the giants