Heavens above, Galileo was beaten by a Londoner

HE is credited as the man who first used a telescope to study the heavens.

But as celebrations begin for the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's achievements, it has emerged that the Tuscan may have been beaten to the first such views of the universe by a Londoner. Experts say Thomas Harriot started sketching the moon on 26July 1609 - at least four months before Galileo - from his base in the grounds of Syon House, Isleworth. Today astronomers led by Sky At Night presenter Sir Patrick Moore called for Harriot to be credited as the father of modern astronomy.

"Harriot's observations of the moon are the earliest records we have of a telescope used in astronomy," said Sir Patrick. "His lunar map was far better than Galileo's, so his telescope must have been better too. Harriot kept his head down and stayed out of the public eye - he was very wise! He just wanted a nice quiet life."

Science historian Dr Allan Chapman, of Oxford University, said Galileo "had an incredible genius for grabbing the media".

Dutch spectacle-maker Hans Lippershey invented the telescope, or troncke, in 1608.