The year 2009 marks the 400th anniversary of the astronomical telescope. In 1609, Galileo’s improved view of the moon and the Milky Way launched humanity along a new road toward understanding our cosmic environment. No other scientific instrument has had such a profound impact on our view of the universe. The telescope’s influence continues to dominate our attempts to perceive the cosmos, as astronomers struggle to decode the mysteries of newly discovered dark energy and matter in an accelerating universe.

Visit project website: http://www.400years.org/index.html