Galileo Galilei was called before the judge this day in 1633. He was in Rome to face heresy charges stemming from his belief that the earth orbits the sun, not the other way around. Hey its an easy mistake he said, anyone could have done it. You look up, there's the sun, who's to say what orbits what? The judge didn't by it.
Actually his goose was fully cooked. He had faced the Roman Inquisition already and had pleaded guilty in hopes of a lighter sentence.
Nicolaus Copernicus, noted Polish astronomer, had discovered that, in actual fact, the earth and quite a few other heavenly bodies orbited around the sun. He did not have to battle the Catholic Church however. But Galileo being a good scientist not bound by religious doctrine could readily see that Copernicus was correct. After all, he had built some of the most sophisticated telescopes then available and noted first hand the comings and goings of the heavens.
People loved him. This fame and visibility made the papacy suspicious, even though he was appointed court mathematician at Florence. Once he bagan to expound Copernicus' theories Rome reeled him in.
He remained under house arrest at Arcentri until his death in 1642. Moving at glacial speed Rome finally forgave and forgot the condemnation and arrest in 1992. No rush guys.
Actually his goose was fully cooked. He had faced the Roman Inquisition already and had pleaded guilty in hopes of a lighter sentence.
Nicolaus Copernicus, noted Polish astronomer, had discovered that, in actual fact, the earth and quite a few other heavenly bodies orbited around the sun. He did not have to battle the Catholic Church however. But Galileo being a good scientist not bound by religious doctrine could readily see that Copernicus was correct. After all, he had built some of the most sophisticated telescopes then available and noted first hand the comings and goings of the heavens.
People loved him. This fame and visibility made the papacy suspicious, even though he was appointed court mathematician at Florence. Once he bagan to expound Copernicus' theories Rome reeled him in.
He remained under house arrest at Arcentri until his death in 1642. Moving at glacial speed Rome finally forgave and forgot the condemnation and arrest in 1992. No rush guys.
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