If you happen to be near Philadelphia, PA before September 7, 2009, I highly suggest checking out the Franklin Institute. It is currently hosting the only United States appearance of the Galileo, The Medeci, & the Age of Astronomy exhibit. The exhibit, presented by Officine Panerai (the link to watches!), showcases Galileo’s contributions to the developments of the telescope, his impact on math, astronomy, and physics, and his relationship to the Medici family. He worked to make the clocks of the time more accurate, was one of the first to see Saturn’s rings, and created some of the most intricate and beautiful tools of the time. Visitors get to see some of the tools he created and used, and two telescopes–one he used in his work, and one he built for the Medicis.
I have to say thank you to Officine Panerai for making this exhibit possible. It is truly amazing to see, and is well worth a trip to the City of Brotherly Love!