Galileo Galilei (Astronomer)

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and mathematician who played a key role in the Scientific Revolution. He is best known for improving the telescope and making groundbreaking astronomical observations, such as the moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus, which supported the Copernican view that planets orbit the Sun. Galileo's work laid the foundation for modern physics and astronomy, and he championed the use of experimentation and observation in science. His advocacy for the scientific method and his challenges to established views led to conflicts with the Church, making him a pivotal figure in the history of science.