Galileo

1564 - 1642

Galileo Galilei was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher.

Among his many contributions to science are the discovery of the four largest satellites of Jupiter (named the Galilean moons in his honour), the rings of Saturn, and evidences for a sun-centered solar system.

It was this last view (that the earth revolved around the sun and not vice-versa) that led to his eventual arrest and trial by the Inquisition.  He was forced to recant this view, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei

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