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Thomas Harriot, mapped the Moon with a telescope 4 months before Galileo (d. 1621)

Thomas Harriot was an English astronomermathematicianethnographer and translator who made advances within the scientific field. Thomas Harriot was recognized for his contributions in astronomy, mathematics, and navigational techniques. Harriot worked closely with John White to create advanced maps for navigation. While Harriot worked extensively on numerous papers on the subjects of astronomy, mathematics and navigation, the amount of work that he actually published was extremely sparse, namely only The Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. This book includes descriptions of English settlements and financial issues in Virginia at the time. He is sometimes credited with the introduction of the potato to the British Isles. Harriot was the first person to make a drawing of the Moon through a telescope, on 26 July 1609, over four months before Galileo Galilei. – Wikipedia

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