Nicolaus Copernicus explained this idea in a book in 1543. The problem was, the Church stated that God had put the Earth at the centre of the Universe. You could be put to death for saying that the Earth went round the Sun.
Who was put on trial for star-gazing?
Few scientists were brave enough to say that they agreed with Copernicus’s findings that the Earth went round the Sun. The Italian astronomer Galileo was – and was put on trial for his ideas in 1634.
Is it true? The Church accepted that Galileo was right in the end.
Yes. The Church eventually agreed that the Earth and other planets travelled round the Sun. But they didn’t do this until 1992 – 350 years after Galileo’s death!
Who first used a telescope for astronomy?
Galileo started making telescopes in 1609, not long after Lippershey made his. Galileo was the first person to realize how useful a telescope would be for looking at the night sky. Because he could see more clearly, he made lots of important new finds, such as discovering four of Jupiter’s moons.
Amazing! Copernicus explained the seasons. By showing that the Earth goes round the Sun and also spins at the same time, Copernicus explained why some times of the year are warmer than others.
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