World Book at NASA for Students
Galileo (GAL uh LAY oh or GAL uh LEE oh) (1564-1642) was an Italian astronomer and physicist. He was the first to use a telescope to learn important things about Earth, the moon, and the stars. Galileo discovered basic laws about the speed of moving objects. He also invented many scientific tools and found a way to make telescopes more powerful.
Galileo was born in Pisa, Italy. His full name was Galileo Galilei, but today most people call him just Galileo. When he was a young boy, his family moved to Florence. Later, Galileo's father sent him to the University of Pisa to study medicine. Galileo was more interested in mathematics, so he returned to Florence.
In 1589, Galileo became a professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa. Later, he taught at the University of Padua.
In 1609, he built his first telescope. He used it to study the heavens. He saw that the surface of the moon was rough and full of craters. He also discovered four moons across Jupiter.
In Galileo's time, some scientists thought the planets moved around Earth. They believed that Earth did not move. In 1543, however, the astronomer Copernicus said that all the planets, including Earth, moved around the sun. Galileo agreed with Copernicus. In 1633, the Roman Catholic Church punished Galileo for his beliefs. Church leaders felt Galileo went against the teachings of the Bible by agreeing with Copernicus. Galileo was not allowed to leave his house for the rest of his life.
How to cite this article: To cite this article, World Book recommends the following format: "Galileo." The World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 2005.
Galileo was born in Pisa, Italy. His full name was Galileo Galilei, but today most people call him just Galileo. When he was a young boy, his family moved to Florence. Later, Galileo's father sent him to the University of Pisa to study medicine. Galileo was more interested in mathematics, so he returned to Florence.
In 1589, Galileo became a professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa. Later, he taught at the University of Padua.
In 1609, he built his first telescope. He used it to study the heavens. He saw that the surface of the moon was rough and full of craters. He also discovered four moons across Jupiter.
In Galileo's time, some scientists thought the planets moved around Earth. They believed that Earth did not move. In 1543, however, the astronomer Copernicus said that all the planets, including Earth, moved around the sun. Galileo agreed with Copernicus. In 1633, the Roman Catholic Church punished Galileo for his beliefs. Church leaders felt Galileo went against the teachings of the Bible by agreeing with Copernicus. Galileo was not allowed to leave his house for the rest of his life.
How to cite this article: To cite this article, World Book recommends the following format: "Galileo." The World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 2005.
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