Jack Oughton - Galileo.. In Brief

Galileo Galilei

Publicized the use of the Telescope • One of the 1st people to make quality telescopes (32x) • Made and Sold telescopes across Europe spreading their use, and inspiring other astronomers.

Galileo’s Discoveries • Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

• Saturn’s rings (He didn’t know what they were) • Phases of Venus.

• Sun spots.

Heliocentric view of the Universe • Observed that Venus has phases • Observed that Copernicus’ model was more effective.

• Actively proposed Copernicus’ heliocentric model as a real life alternative to the church’s model.

Direct Challenges to the church • Openly challenged the Geocentric view of the universe.

• Phases of Venus.

• Jovian satellites orbit Jupiter not Earth.

• Recognised the existence of Sun Spots.

Galileo’s overall contribution to astronomy, science and culture • Set a bench mark for others to question church teachings.

• Began to increase use of telescopes for astronomy.

• Made major discoveries in astronomy.

Galileo’s overall contribution to astronomy, science and culture • Opened up a rift of mistrust between some areas of Science and Religion.

• Challenged the idea of perfect heavenly bodies.

• Invented the Galileo thermometer.

• Science celebratory!

References • Image 1 : http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap011014.html • Image 2 : http://www.telescope1609.com/Galileo.htm • Image 3 : http://www.telescope1609.com/Galileo.htm • Image 4 : http://www.telescope1609.com/Galileo.htm • Image 5 : http://www.astro.su.se/~alexis/astrophoto.eng.html • Image 6 : http://www.astro.su.se/~alexis/astrophoto.eng.html • Image 7 : http://www.dzwholesale.com/Galileo_Thermometers. html