Galileo demonstrating his telescope in August 1609 to Leonardo Donato (1536-1612) the Doge (ruler) of Venice, Italy, together with members of the Venetian Senate. Italian astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) heard of the first telescope or 'magic tube' invented by Lippershey in Holland in 1608 and built his own design in 1609. Using it he discovered a number of stars invisible to the naked eye, Jupiter's moons and mountains on the Moon. He published his results in 'Sidereus Nuncius' (Starry Messenger, 1610). The Doge was more interested in the telescope's potential maritime and military uses. This illustration by Motty was published in 1884.