What technological advancement allowed Galileo Galilei to observe topographical features on the Moon around 1609?
Answer
An early version of the newly invented telescope
The necessary shift in perspective required a new instrument capable of providing magnification beyond human capability. Around the year 1609, Galileo Galilei utilized an early iteration of the recently invented telescope. By turning this instrument toward the sky, he achieved unprecedented magnification, which granted him the ability to resolve fine details on the lunar surface previously unimaginable, thus breaking free from centuries of purely philosophical consideration regarding the Moon's appearance.
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