Astronomy Scorecard

• Who used mathematics to describe planetary motion?

• Copernicus
• Kepler
• Newton

• What was Galileo’s greatest contribution to answering the ancient question about planetary motion?

• His 1604 studies on the nature of motion (published in 1638).

• Who applied Galileo’s insights about motion to explain the planetary system?

• Newton

• What convincing evidence did Galileo offer to support the heliocentric hypothesis?

• None!

• Why should the Church have accepted heliocentrism as a fact in Galileo’s time?

• Because it was proved to be true ~200 years later?
• Because St. Galileo the Great said so?