A pioneer of modern astronomy, Galileo Galilei was born in 1564 in Pisa, Italy. Although interested in mathematics and philosophy, Galileo studied medicine at the university in Pisa. After teaching mathematics in Florence and Pisa, he was designated professor of mathematics at the University of Padua. At Padua, he was supposed to teach standard geocentric astronomy to medical students. Instead, Galileo apparently lectured deviant forms of astronomy at a public lecture about the appearance of Kepler's supernova of 1604. In a letter to Kepler, he stated he was a Copernican. In 1609 there was news of a spyglass invented by a Dutchman. Galileo, using the reports and technical skills, built far better telescopes than the Dutchman's. In a book written about his discoveries, he claimed to have seen mountains on the Moon, seen four small moons orbiting Jupiter, and proved the Milky to be made up of tiny stars. Afterwards, Galileo became the Mathematician and Philosopher to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. During 1613, Galileo discovered that Venus had phases like the moon and therefore revolved around the Sun. Although this supported both the Copernican theory and the Tychonic theory, his verbal skills leaned to give evidence for the Copernican theory. In the time of the Inquisition, Copernicanism was found to be against the Scriptures and Galileo was given an official warning not to defend Copernicus. While publishing a book in 1632, Rome found him suspected of heresy and sentenced to house arrest for life. Galileo died near Florence, Italy, in 1642.

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