Facing the Facts: Few Events in History Have Proved as Momentous as Galileo's Discovery of the Moons of Jupiter. David Wootton Explains Why

Wootton, David, History Today

Four hundred years ago this summer Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was in a state of anxiety. In January he had discovered four moons orbiting Jupiter. In March he had published this and other remarkable discoveries made with his improved telescope in Sidereus Nuncius ('The Starry Messenger'). But by the summer he was becoming profoundly alarmed. He had offered philosophers and mathematicians in Venice, Padua, Florence, Pisa and Bologna the chance to look through his telescope and confirm his discoveries. Some, including Cremonini, the highest paid academic in Italy and a good friend of Galileo's, had simply refused. Others had looked, but had said they could not see what on earth he was talking about. Only Kepler in Germany had come out in his support, but he had yet to get hold of a decent telescope so had not seen the moons for himself. He was prepared to …

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Publication information: Article title: Facing the Facts: Few Events in History Have Proved as Momentous as Galileo's Discovery of the Moons of Jupiter. David Wootton Explains Why. Contributors: Wootton, David - Author. Magazine title: History Today. Volume: 60. Issue: 9 Publication date: September 2010. Page number: 3+. © 2009 History Today Ltd. COPYRIGHT 2010 Gale Group.

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