Life and achievements
Early life
The great Italian scientist Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564, in Pisa, Italy, to a musician, Vincenzo Galilei and Giulia Ammannati. Galileo was the first child of six in a family that supported education and the arts. Galileo developed his curiosity and doubt of the authorities thanks to his father's influence in his early years. Despite the financial problems, the Galilei family made sure that Galileo received a good education; this is because they enrolled him at the University of Pisa to study medicine in 1580.
While at the University of Pisa, Galileo got interested in mathematics and physics and changed his course from medicine. His early attempts at pendulums and observations of a swinging chandelier at Pisa Cathedral helped him finally realize that pendulums are isochronous, enabling him to create timepieces. These early studies are the starting point of Galileo's long research on the principles of motion and dynamics.
When Galileo left the University of Pisa in 1585 without a degree, he went back to Florence and self-taught himself. He earned his living as a mathematics teacher and wrote a work on hydrostatic balance, which brought him into the circle of scholars. He was appointed to the chair of mathematics at the University of Pisa in 1589, and there, he initiated his research into the laws of motion.
Galileo left the University of Pisa in 1592 and went to the University of Padua, where he taught geometry, mechanics, and astronomy up to 1610. During this period, he contributed immensely to the development of science by creating the thermoscope and enhancing the telescope. Thus, the period of Galileo's work in Padua made him a famous scientist and an innovator, which paved the way for his great astronomical discoveries in the early 17th century.
Legacy
Galileo Galilei was a great man whose work in science, mathematics, and philosophy has left a lasting impression to this date. This enabled him to collect evidence that supported the heliocentric model and thus opposed the geocentric model, which had been accepted for an extended period. Galileo made several discoveries, such as the moons of Jupiter, the phases of Venus and the Moon's surface, and this revolutionized how people looked at the universe.
Galileo's adherence to the scientific approach of observation, experimentation, and mathematical reasoning paved the way for modern science. His methodological approach was adopted by future scientists such as Sir Isaac Newton, who extended Galileo's works to develop the laws of motion and universal gravitation. The principles of observation and reason that Galileo championed are still very much in use in the present-day scientific community.
Although the Catholic Church was against Galileo and his theories, the latter's views won the day, and the struggle between science and faith is considered one of the most important themes of Galileo's life. The fact that the Church accepted Galileo's discovery and contributions many years after his death shows that his work has affected both the Church and science. Galileo's life and trial are among the most famous and vital stories of the fight for free thought and the search for truth.
Galileo's impact is not limited to the sphere of science only. His work led to the Reformation, a cultural and intellectual movement based on the use of reason and evidence in place of the use of tradition and superstition. The Enlightenment, which embraced reason and questioned traditional wisdom, is in no small measure due to Galileo's work. This is also seen in the many awards and memorials, such as the Galileo spacecraft used to explore Jupiter and its moons and thus continue the tradition of discovery.
Milestone moments
Aug 16, 1609
First Telescopic Observations
Galileo Galilei built his first telescope in August 1609 following the accounts of a Dutch device that could enlarge objects at a distance. Galileo's improved version had a magnification of about 8 to 9 times, and he made astronomical discoveries.
With his telescope, Galileo observed the Moon and found mountains and craters, in contrast to the Aristotelian theory that the celestial bodies were perfect and smooth.
He also recorded the phases of Venus, which also indicated that Venus goes around the sun, thus supporting the Copernican heliocentric theory. These observations made a significant shift in the perception of the universe and paved the way for contemporary astronomy.
Jan 16, 1610
Discovery of Jupiter's Moons
In January 1610, Galileo pointed his telescope towards Jupiter and saw four stars revolving around the planet; he named these stars the Medicean stars in honour of Cosimo II de Medici.
This discovery threatened the geocentric model, which assumed that everything in the universe, including the stars and planets, moved around the Earth. It provided factual proof that not all objects in the sky orbited the Earth, which supported the heliocentric theory.
Galileo used a telescope as a scientific instrument for the first time to observe the moons of Jupiter, strengthening his position as the leading astronomer of his time.
Feb 16, 1616
Condemnation of Heliocentrism
In February 1616, the Roman Catholic Inquisition banned Copernicus's heliocentric system and the works of Galileo, which endorsed it. The Church also banned heliocentrism as it was against the Bible.
According to the Church's order, Galileo was called to Rome and told to stop supporting the heliocentric system. However, he continued his research and looked for ways to promote the Copernican system.
The condemnation signified the start of Galileo's troubles with the Church, which showed the struggle between reason and faith.
Mar 16, 1610
Publication of Sidereus Nuncius
In March 1610, Galileo published a short book titled "Sidereus Nuncius" or "The Starry Messenger" in which Galileo described the discoveries made through the telescope, such as the phases of the Moon, the four moons of Jupiter and thousands of stars in the Milky Way.
The publication became a hit and made Galileo one of the most famous astronomers of his time. It also gained the attention of influential patrons like the Medici family, who offered Galileo financial and political backing.
Thus, "Sidereus Nuncius" may be considered one of the most essential works in the history of science, as it contributed to popularizing the new approach to knowledge based on observation and the use of the telescope.