<p>From the book <em>Turn Left at Orion</em> by Guy Consolmagno and Dan M. Davis, Galileo might have set his beard on fire with a telescope pointed at the Sun.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>And you must keep your eyes -- and your clothing -- out of the path of the projected light. It is said that Galileo set fire to his beard doing this!</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In his defense, he was the first person to look at the Sun with a telescope, so you can't blame him for not knowing about the associated risks!</p>

<p>But this story might also be apocryphal. Many people set various things on fire with a telescope (some even <a href="https://coolsciencedad.blogspot.com/2016/05/starting-fire-with-telescope.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">doing it on purpose</a>). </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-17T10:55:24.703Z
Here is a reference to a strikingly similar event, it doesn't sound apocryphal. https://youtu.be/UPoh76f60kA?t=721
Amoeba
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-02T13:41:30.213Z
2020-06-02T13:41:30.213Z
usernumber
<p>There is a famous story of an experienced astronomer setting his beard on fire because he left the cap off his telescopes finder. I know it's said to be true of Galileo, but I thing it's relatively recent - i.e. 20th century.
Does anyone know his name? Or can someone cite a source? </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-13T13:14:25.753Z
Few astronomers in the 20th century actually _look_ through a telescope, but use CCDs/photographic plates instead. But why don't you ask [James Screech](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/14701/5264).
pela
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-13T15:43:02.217Z
Nice find @pela  Oddly, this story doesn't google.   An astronomer who set his beard on fire should be something that shows right up on google search and this "famous story" doesn't.    Might be more myth than truth, but now I'm curious.   I'd like to know the answer to this one too.
userLTK
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-13T16:12:43.423Z
@userLTK Yeah, but I suspect myth though… where did you hear that story, Amoeba?
pela
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-13T17:23:23.507Z
Incidents like this are rather common, unfortunately. Everything has been set on fire from beards to parkas to houses. Put the caps on, people.
Florin Andrei
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-14T17:19:50.367Z
I'm new to these boards and with the stupid rating system, I can barely do anything useful. I can't work-out how to ask James Screech, it seems like I'm not allowed-to. I just can't be bothered to mess-about. Thanks, everybody, I know it's not your fault.
Amoeba
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T01:43:39.377Z
@Amoeba I understand that Stack Exchange can seem a little frustrating in the beginning, but once you get used to it you may discover that some of the peculiarities of the system have evolved over time to make it more durable against the randomness of internet traffic and hecklers. In this case, you need a reputation ("score") of 50 in order to start leaving comments on other people's post. It doesn't take long, to reach 50 if you ask a few questions or post a reasonable answer. Give SE a little more time and you may really learn to enjoy it! Each SE site has a different "personality".
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-30T08:25:17.423Z
@Amoeba if you are really set on your question, then apply a couple of days' effort on the forum. It's not hard even if it looks complicated in the beginning.
Helen
<the-sun><observational-astronomy><history>
Which astronomer set his beard on fire because he left the cap off his telescopes finder?
Amoeba
# Which astronomer set his beard on fire because he left the cap off his telescopes finder?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-13)

There is a famous story of an experienced astronomer setting his beard on fire because he left the cap off his telescopes finder. I know it's said to be true of Galileo, but I thing it's relatively recent - i.e. 20th century.
Does anyone know his name? Or can someone cite a source?

**Tags:** the-sun, observational-astronomy, history

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Few astronomers in the 20th century actually _look_ through a telescope, but use CCDs/photographic plates instead. But why don't you ask [James Screech](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/14701/5264).  
> **username_2**: Nice find @username_1  Oddly, this story doesn't google.   An astronomer who set his beard on fire should be something that shows right up on google search and this "famous story" doesn't.    Might be more myth than truth, but now I'm curious.   I'd like to know the answer to this one too.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 Yeah, but I suspect myth though… where did you hear that story, username_0?  
> **username_3**: Incidents like this are rather common, unfortunately. Everything has been set on fire from beards to parkas to houses. Put the caps on, people.  
> **username_0**: I'm new to these boards and with the stupid rating system, I can barely do anything useful. I can't work-out how to ask James Screech, it seems like I'm not allowed-to. I just can't be bothered to mess-about. Thanks, everybody, I know it's not your fault.  
> **username_4**: @username_0 I understand that Stack Exchange can seem a little frustrating in the beginning, but once you get used to it you may discover that some of the peculiarities of the system have evolved over time to make it more durable against the randomness of internet traffic and hecklers. In this case, you need a reputation ("score") of 50 in order to start leaving comments on other people's post. It doesn't take long, to reach 50 if you ask a few questions or post a reasonable answer. Give SE a little more time and you may really learn to enjoy it! Each SE site has a different "personality".  
> **username_5**: @username_0 if you are really set on your question, then apply a couple of days' effort on the forum. It's not hard even if it looks complicated in the beginning.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2020-06-02. Score: 3

From the book *Turn Left at Orion* by Guy Consolmagno and Dan M. Davis, Galileo might have set his beard on fire with a telescope pointed at the Sun.

> And you must keep your eyes -- and your clothing -- out of the path of the projected light. It is said that Galileo set fire to his beard doing this!

In his defense, he was the first person to look at the Sun with a telescope, so you can't blame him for not knowing about the associated risks!

But this story might also be apocryphal. Many people set various things on fire with a telescope (some even [doing it on purpose](https://coolsciencedad.blogspot.com/2016/05/starting-fire-with-telescope.html)).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Here is a reference to a strikingly similar event, it doesn't sound apocryphal. https://youtu.be/UPoh76f60kA?t=721  

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