Outdoor Galileo Thermometer

Enjoy the stunning design of the Galileo outdoor thermometer. Looks great hanging in the porch, conservatory or any outdoor area.

A Galileo thermometer has become a very attractive and eye-catching feature in people’s homes. It is a rare collision of art and science working beautifully together. Although usually seen indoors, you can also get an outdoor Galileo thermometer that has been adapted.

The thermometer is actually quite a simple and fairly accurate reading of the current temperature, whether it is indoors or out. If you’re not sure how the physics of the thermometer works, there is a good description here, which describes how it operates using Galileo’s 400 year old relative density principles. Basically by using changing water temperatures and the density of floating, colored, glass balls to reflect a temperature reading.

The balls are usually colored from blues and greens to represent colder temperatures and reds and oranges to represent warmer ones and most designs contain around 10 or 11 of them.

As you would imagine the fact that the thermometer is made from hand blown glass and contains water it would need to be kept indoors and in a safe place where it won’t get knocked over and broken.

Fortunately there are designs now that enable a Galileo thermometer to be hung outdoors and it looks great over the patio, porch, decking or garden area.

The thermometer is made of much stronger outer glass and is housed in a strong metal cage to prevent it from breaking if it fell or anything hit it or because of debris from strong winds etc.
These thermometers are brightly colored and so look very attractive and stylish outdoors as well as in.

As I’ve mentioned they are quite accurate and from a 55° F to 100° F range they should give temperature readings within just 5°.

I have mine hanging from an old hanging basket bracket round the back of the house and everyone enjoys looking at it and checking the temperature. Sure it’s used primarily as a decorative feature than an accurate temperature guide, but it is the unique working functionality, just like the outdoor clock and thermometer, that gives it its undoubted appeal.

Here’s a video of a Galileo Thermometer using a time lapse so you can easily see the rise and fall of the glass balls:

If you have any comments, please drop them below.

Thanks,

Peter