The first space detective
In 1609 Galileo Galilei proved that Copernicus was right. Using a telescope, Galileo saw the phases of Venus (a bit like how our Moon goes from crescent to full each month) and worked out that this meant Venus was orbiting the Sun rather than the Earth.
Poor Galileo didn't get much reward for his discoveries. He got into trouble with the Vatican, who saw his work as a threat to the Church's teachings. Galileo was forced to publicly retract his ideas, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest. At least it's a bit safer to be a space detective today!
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Galileo's theories got him into trouble
Image: Science Museum / SSPL |
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