Isibonakude siyinsimbi yokubona esebenzisa amalensi, izibuko ezigobile, noma inhlanganisela yakho kokubili ukubona izinto ezikude, noma amadivayisi ahlukahlukene asetshenziselwa ukubuka izinto ezikude ngokuphuma kwazo, ukumunca, noma ukukhombisa imisebe kagesi kagesi. Izibonakude zokuqala ezaziwayo zazikhipha isibonakude esakhiwa eNetherlands ekuqaleni kwekhulu le-17, ngokusebenzisa amalensi engilazi. Zasetshenziselwa ukusetshenziswa komhlaba kanye nezinkanyezi. Irekhodi lokuqala elikhona lesibonakude kwakuyilungelo lobunikazi elaliyi-1608 elethwe kuhulumeni waseNetherlands ngumenzi wemibukiso waseMiddelburg uHans Lippershey for a telescope refracting. UGalileo wezwa ngakho futhi, ngo-1609, wazakhela eyakhe inguqulo, futhi wenza umbono wakhe ngeteleskopu wezinto zasezulwini