Nicolaus copernicus developed the theory of a heliocentric solar system in the 1500s one hundred years later Galileo galilei invented the telescope was able to provide scientific evidence to support this theory what kind of scientific evidence did Galileo provide for copernicus theory

1 answer

Galileo provided several pieces of scientific evidence to support Copernicus' heliocentric theory:

1. Observation of the phases of Venus: Galileo observed that Venus goes through a full set of phases, similar to the Moon. This could only be explained if Venus orbits the Sun and not the Earth.

2. Discovery of the four largest moons of Jupiter: Galileo discovered four moons orbiting Jupiter, now known as the Galilean moons. This finding contradicted the geocentric model, which suggested that all celestial bodies revolve around the Earth. Observing these moons orbiting a planet other than Earth provided evidence for the possibility of other planets having moons and supported the idea of celestial bodies orbiting something other than the Earth.

3. Observation of the sunspots: Galileo observed and recorded sunspots on the surface of the Sun. By tracking the movement of sunspots, he concluded that the Sun rotates on its axis, supporting the heliocentric model and challenging the geocentric belief that the Sun is stationary.

4. Observation of the Moon's topography: Galileo observed the Moon through his telescope and noted mountains, valleys, and craters on its surface. These observations provided evidence against the idea that celestial bodies were smooth and perfect, as suggested by the geocentric model.

By providing these pieces of empirical evidence, Galileo's observations and discoveries supported Copernicus' theory of a heliocentric solar system, challenging the prevailing geocentric model of the time.