Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. He was a very important person in the Scientific Revolution —
at various times, people called him the father of modern observational
astronomy, the father of modern physics, and even the father of science.
He’s perhaps best known for his improvements to the telescopes and the
consequent observations he was able to make. Among his other achievements were the confirmation of the phases of Venus, the discovery of the four largest satellites of Jupiter (now named the Galilean moons), and the observation and analysis of sunspots. He also studied the motion of objects undergoing constant acceleration. Famously, he supported the heliocentric view of the solar system, which says the planets orbit around the sun, not the Earth. That was a tough stance to take in 1610, and he got into trouble for it with the Catholic Church, which in
1616 declared it “false and contrary to Scripture.” In 1632, he was tried by the
Roman Inquisition, found guilty of heresy, and forced to recant. He spent the
rest of his life under house arrest. Modern physicists can be glad that kind of
thing doesn’t go on much anymore.
@science_of_cosmos
Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. He was a very important person in the Scientific Revolution —
at various times, people called him the father of modern observational
astronomy, the father of modern physics, and even the father of science.
He’s perhaps best known for his improvements to the telescopes and the
consequent observations he was able to make. Among his other achievements were the confirmation of the phases of Venus, the discovery of the four largest satellites of Jupiter (now named the Galilean moons), and the observation and analysis of sunspots. He also studied the motion of objects undergoing constant acceleration. Famously, he supported the heliocentric view of the solar system, which says the planets orbit around the sun, not the Earth. That was a tough stance to take in 1610, and he got into trouble for it with the Catholic Church, which in
1616 declared it “false and contrary to Scripture.” In 1632, he was tried by the
Roman Inquisition, found guilty of heresy, and forced to recant. He spent the
rest of his life under house arrest. Modern physicists can be glad that kind of
thing doesn’t go on much anymore.
@science_of_cosmos