Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has been known since ancient times because it is visible to the naked eye. Therefore, no single person is credited with its discovery
. However, the first detailed telescopic observations of Jupiter were made by the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in 1610. Using a small, homemade telescope, Galileo not only observed Jupiter but also discovered its four largest moons—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—now known as the Galilean moons
. Galileo's observations were groundbreaking because they provided strong evidence against the Earth-centered (geocentric) model of the universe and supported the heliocentric theory that planets orbit the Sun
. Although ancient astronomers such as the Babylonians and Chinese had observed Jupiter with the naked eye and recorded its movements, it was Galileo who first studied it in detail through a telescope
. In summary:
- Jupiter has been known since ancient times due to its brightness in the night sky.
- Galileo Galilei made the first telescopic observations of Jupiter in 1610.
- He discovered Jupiter's four largest moons, which was a major astronomical breakthrough
