December 28: According to Galileo Galilei’s drawings, he observed Neptune for the first time on December 28, 1613. However, Galileo thougt that it was a star rather than a planet.

Galileo Galilei

The drawings show that Galileo observed Neptune on December 28, 1612, and again on January 27, 1613; on both occasions, Galileo mistook Neptune for a fixed star when it appeared very close (in conjunction) to Jupiter in the sky.

Historically it was thought that Galileo thought that Neptune was a blue fixed star, and therefore, that is why he has not been credited for its discovery.

Neptune is currently low in the southeastern sky around midnight in the constellation Aquarius. Created with Stellarium.

According to a new theory proposed by Australian researchers, Astronomer Galileo Galilei may have discovered Neptune in 1613 — 234 years before the planet was officially found.


Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/275582#ixzz3v9iLiRzW