Galileo theory of the solar system

Was Galileo a heliocentric Solar System?

But Galileo thought that most planetary orbits are circular in shape, when in fact they are elliptical, as shown by Johannes Kepler. Still, Galileo's observations have confirmed Copernicus' model of a heliocentric Solar System.

What did Galileo observe?

Galileo’s observation wasn’t the very first. But he used it as furious ammunition. Over the coming weeks he observed numerous objects in the sky. He saw the small moons orbiting the planet Jupiter, like a miniature solar system. He observed that the Milky Way was composed of innumerable stars. He recorded the crescent phases of Venus.

How did Galileo support heliocentric theory?

The third observation provided perhaps the most important of all for Galileo's support of the heliocentric theory: he was able to observe that Venus had phases, like the moon. This could only be explained if the planets orbit the sun, not the Earth.

Why did Galileo study astronomy?

In Galileo's day, the study of astronomy was used to maintain and reform the calendar. Sufficiently advanced students of astronomy made horoscopes; the alignment of the stars was believed to influence everything from politics to health.

Did Galileo see the Sun?

Remember, like Galileo, you should NEVER look directly at the Sun! Galileo's telescopes had a magnification of only about 30x. He observed Neptune in 1612, but thought that it was a distant star. Galileo also observed Saturn's rings, but to him they appeared as two separate bodies attached to the planet.

What did Galileo discover in 1609?

Galileo then became interested in optics and astronomy, and in 1609 he built his first telescope and began making observations. The following year he published his first results, where he described the highlands and "seas" of the Moon, four of Jupiter's largest moons, and many newly discovered stars.