What was the maximum magnification achieved by Galileo Galilei using his refined lead tube instrument?
Answer
33 diameters
Galileo Galilei dedicated himself to improving the initial, rudimentary Dutch design, which offered only three or four diameters of magnification. Through his skilled craftsmanship in lens grinding, Galileo rapidly iterated on the design. He progressed from an eight-powered instrument to eventually creating a highly capable device that utilized a roughly 60 cm lead tube to achieve a maximum magnification power of 33 diameters. This significant jump in capability, nearly ten times the initial power, happened relatively quickly and allowed him to make observations—such as the imperfections on the Moon—that were impossible with earlier, weaker devices.
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