Galileo Galilei was an Italian philosopher, physicist and astronomer. Considered the father of modern astronomy he was the first to observe and see the solar system as no one has before. He was a teacher of mathematics and physics at the universities of Pisa and Padua. Galileo was a distinguished intellectual many desired to match wits with the scientist. He was a devout Catholic though his observations convinced him to reason a Copernican model of the universe. Scripture had led the Catholic Church to believe in a geocentric model of the universe, not the heliocentric model that the Copernican system is based on. His writings disturbed the Church, which banned teaching of the Copernican system. Continued scientific observation led Galileo to write about his discoveries supporting a heliocentric model. The Inquisition having warned Galileo 15 years before put him on trial for heresy. Galileo denounced his beliefs in the heliocentric system. He did everything the Inquisition asked form him. They found him guilty of heresy and sentenced him to house arrest indefinitely. At the sentencing there is legend he muttered the famous "Eppur si muove" (but it moves anyway). It took 359 years for the Catholic Church to issue anything that came close to an apology. In 1992, Pope John Paul II lifted the edict of Inquisition against Galileo stating," Galileo wronged by the Catholic Church not recognizing the difference between a question relating to scientific investigation and one falling into the realm of the doctrine of faith."
             Galileo develops his views by empirical evidence. Galileo observes Venus and finds proof supporting the Copernican theory. Studying Venus, Galileo found proof the planet revolved around the sun. He developed a theory from the oceans tides to support the Copernican system. He explained that how was the water on the earth moving if the planet was standing still. In his "Treatise on Tides,&quo
             ...