Background
Galileo was an Italian astronomer who made many discoveries to further the knowledge of the solar system. He was the first person to use the newly invented telescope to study celestial objects and the first to see lunar mountains and sunspots. Galileo discovered that planet Venus showed distinct phases just liek the moon, which led him to conclude that Venus must orbit the sun like the moon as well. The telescope that Galileo was using was not strong enough to show Saturn's rings.
Galileo's most famous discovery was the existance of Jupiter. He was able to see the disk of the planet and four dots of light with it. He realized these four dots changed positions over the course of a few nights, which led him to the conclusion that they were moons orbiting the big planet.
Galileo's discoveries were extremely contriversal because they indicated that the Earth wasn't the center of the universe. His observations that Venus orbited the sun and small moons orbited Jupiter led him to believe that the Earth orbited the sun as well. His views conflicted with the Catholic Church teachings, so Galileo was forced to take back his views and was placed under house arrest for life. In 1922, the Church finally admitted their wrong judgement toward Galileo-- he in fact, was right.
Galileo died at age 78 as one of the chief founders of modern science. His greatest impact was the telescope and laws of motion, which changed the way that people viewed the universe.
Galileo's most famous discovery was the existance of Jupiter. He was able to see the disk of the planet and four dots of light with it. He realized these four dots changed positions over the course of a few nights, which led him to the conclusion that they were moons orbiting the big planet.
Galileo's discoveries were extremely contriversal because they indicated that the Earth wasn't the center of the universe. His observations that Venus orbited the sun and small moons orbited Jupiter led him to believe that the Earth orbited the sun as well. His views conflicted with the Catholic Church teachings, so Galileo was forced to take back his views and was placed under house arrest for life. In 1922, the Church finally admitted their wrong judgement toward Galileo-- he in fact, was right.
Galileo died at age 78 as one of the chief founders of modern science. His greatest impact was the telescope and laws of motion, which changed the way that people viewed the universe.
Primary Source
[Galileo to Kepler, 1597]
....Like you, I accepted the
Copernicun position several years ago and discovered from thence the causes of
many natural effects which are doubtless inexplicable by the current
theories. I have written up many
of my reasons and refutations on the subject, but I have not dared until now to
bring them into the open, being warned by the fortunes of Copernicus himself,
our master, who procured immortal fame among a few but stepped down among the
great crowd (for the foolish are numerous), only to be derided and
dishonored. I would dare publish
my thoughts if there were many like you; but, since there are not, I shall
forebear....
[Kepler to Galileo, 1597]
...I could only have wished
that you, who have so profound an insight, would choose another way.
You advise us, by your personal example, and in discreetly veiled
fashion, to retreat before the general ignorance and not to expose ourselves or
heedlessly to oppose the violent attacks of the mob of scholars (and in this you
follow Plato and Pythagoras, our true perceptors).
But after a tremendous task has been begun in our time, first by
Copernicus and then by many very learned mathematicians, and when the assertion
that the Earth moves can no longer be considered something new, would it not be
much better to pull the wagon to its goal by our joint efforts, now that we have
got it under way, and gradually, with powerful voices, to shout down the common
herd, which really does not weigh the arguments very carefully?
Thus perhaps by cleverness we may bring it to a knowledge of the
truth. With your arguments you
would at the same time help your comrades who endure so many unjust judgments,
for they would obtain either comfort from your agreement or protection from your
influential position. It is not
only your Italians who cannot believe that they move if they do not feel it, but
we in Germany also do not by any means endear ourselves with this idea. Yet there are ways by which we protect
ourselves against these difficulties....
Be of good cheer, Galileo, and come out publicly. If I judge correctly, there are only a
few of the distinguished mathematicians of Europe who would part company with
us, so great is the power of truth.
If Italy seems a less favorable place for your publication, and if you
look for difficulties there, perhaps Germany will allow us this
freedom.
....Like you, I accepted the
Copernicun position several years ago and discovered from thence the causes of
many natural effects which are doubtless inexplicable by the current
theories. I have written up many
of my reasons and refutations on the subject, but I have not dared until now to
bring them into the open, being warned by the fortunes of Copernicus himself,
our master, who procured immortal fame among a few but stepped down among the
great crowd (for the foolish are numerous), only to be derided and
dishonored. I would dare publish
my thoughts if there were many like you; but, since there are not, I shall
forebear....
[Kepler to Galileo, 1597]
...I could only have wished
that you, who have so profound an insight, would choose another way.
You advise us, by your personal example, and in discreetly veiled
fashion, to retreat before the general ignorance and not to expose ourselves or
heedlessly to oppose the violent attacks of the mob of scholars (and in this you
follow Plato and Pythagoras, our true perceptors).
But after a tremendous task has been begun in our time, first by
Copernicus and then by many very learned mathematicians, and when the assertion
that the Earth moves can no longer be considered something new, would it not be
much better to pull the wagon to its goal by our joint efforts, now that we have
got it under way, and gradually, with powerful voices, to shout down the common
herd, which really does not weigh the arguments very carefully?
Thus perhaps by cleverness we may bring it to a knowledge of the
truth. With your arguments you
would at the same time help your comrades who endure so many unjust judgments,
for they would obtain either comfort from your agreement or protection from your
influential position. It is not
only your Italians who cannot believe that they move if they do not feel it, but
we in Germany also do not by any means endear ourselves with this idea. Yet there are ways by which we protect
ourselves against these difficulties....
Be of good cheer, Galileo, and come out publicly. If I judge correctly, there are only a
few of the distinguished mathematicians of Europe who would part company with
us, so great is the power of truth.
If Italy seems a less favorable place for your publication, and if you
look for difficulties there, perhaps Germany will allow us this
freedom.
Translation:
In order to understand these letters between Galileo and Kepler, you must know that Galileo agreed with Capernicus's theory that the sun was the center of the universe. Galileo contacted Kepler through mail, and asks him for his advice. He is not sure if he should make it public that he discovered the truth about the solar system. Many people of this time period believed that the earth was the center of the universe because it is the most important and because God created all of the people on it and that makes it the most important. Galileo was afraid that people would disagree with his discovery and try to render him wrong. Kepler actually tells Galileo to let it be known by everybody what he has discovered, and so he does.
The significance of these letters makes it clear that the Renaissance and Reformation was a time of science. Like today, back in the period of the Renaissance and Reformation people were discovering many things. It was an important discovery by Capernicus that the sun is the center of the universe, but it was even better when he finally had somebody who agreed with him. The contact between Galileo and Kepler would determine whether Galileo would share the news to the public or keep it to himself. He decided to tell the public, which now is very important in the science world today.
Works Cited
"Background: Galileo." Background: Galileo. Http://burro.astr.cwru.edu, n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.
"GALILEO GALILEI1564-1642." GALILEO GALILEO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.
"GALILEO GALILEI1564-1642." GALILEO GALILEO. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.