Galileo's Sidereus nuncius

More about the book

Galileo Galilei’s Sidereus Nuncius, published in Venice in 1610, is a pivotal work that reshaped humanity's understanding of the cosmos, akin to Copernicus’ and Newton’s contributions. Utilizing the telescope, Galilei revealed that celestial bodies like the moon possess a surface as rugged as Earth’s and discovered that planets such as Jupiter have their own planetary systems. Driven by urgency to publish before competitors, he completed the work in just eight weeks, with parts being printed even before the entire manuscript was finalized. This haste, while evident throughout the text, adds to its unique appeal. Despite its significant impact, the physical origins of Sidereus Nuncius have not been thoroughly examined. Fundamental questions regarding its printing, paper quality, and illustrations remain largely unanswered. The first volume presents collaborative analyses by experts from various institutions, based on different copies of the book. The second volume, authored by Paul Needham, meticulously tracks the book’s production from January to March 1610, revealing that changes were made during printing, making each of the 450 copies effectively an original. These volumes not only provide a detailed study of Galilei's work on its 400th anniversary but also exemplify interdisciplinary collaboration in research.