Galileo Galilei

Biography

An Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, whose pioneering observations with the telescope revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos. His advocacy for a heliocentric (sun-centered) universe brought him into direct conflict with the Catholic Church.

Legacy

Galileo's emphasis on observational evidence and experimentation was a major step in the scientific revolution. His discoveries, including the moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus, provided crucial support for Copernican theory.