Who was the first
person to closely observed
the Moon?
Answers
Answer:
Thomas Harriot (/ˈhæriət/;[1] c. 1560 – 2 July 1621), also spelled Harriott, Hariot or Heriot, was an English astronomer, mathematician, ethnographer and translator who made advances within the scientific field. Thomas Harriot was recognized for his contributions in astronomy, mathematics, and navigational techniques.[2] Harriot worked closely with John White to create advanced maps for navigation.[2] 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,[3] namely only The Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia.[2] This book includes descriptions of English settlements and financial issues in Virginia at the time.[2] He is sometimes credited with the introduction of the potato to the British Isles.[4] 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.[5]
Thomas Harriot

Portrait often claimed to be Thomas Harriot (1602), which hangs in Trinity College, Oxford.
Bornc. 1560
Oxford, England
Died2 July 1621 (aged 60–61)
London, England
NationalityEnglishAlma materSt Mary Hall, OxfordKnown for
Introducing symbols for "is less than" [<] and "is greater than" [>].
Translation of the Carolina Algonquian language into English
Scientific careerFieldsAstronomy, mathematics, ethnography

Thomas Harriot observing the Moon through his telescope at Syon Park
Harriot's accomplishments remained obscure for centuries simply because he failed to publish any of his results.
After graduating from St Mary Hall, Oxford, Harriot travelled to the Americas, accompanying the 1585 expedition to Roanoke island funded by Sir Walter Raleigh and led by Sir Ralph Lane. Harriot was a vital member of the venture, having learned and translating the Carolina Algonquian language from two Native Americans: Wanchese and Manteo. On his return to England, he worked for the 9th Earl of Northumberland. At the Earl's house, he became a prolific mathematician and astronomer to whom the theory of refraction is attributed.
Answer:
He soon made his first astronomical discovery. At the time, most scientists believed that the Moon was a smooth sphere, but Galileo discovered that the Moon has mountains, pits, and other features, just like the Earth.