RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 14th and 15th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
On February 15th, 1564, Vincenzo Galilei and his wife Giulia welcomed their first child to the world.
PAUL
Vincenzo and Giulia were citizens of Renaissance Pisa.
RACHEL
And their son Galileo Galilei was to become one of the most important people in the history of science.
PAUL
Prior to Galileo’s work, ancient philosophers, primarily the Greeks, were held as the standard bearer of knowledge.
RACHEL
Which is why educated European’s of the time viewed what the classical Greeks wrote as the truth handed down by authority.
PAUL
Galileo challenged that notion because he believed that empirical evidence always trumps authority.
RACHEL
So when Aristotle said that heavy objects fell faster than light objects, Galileo tested it.
PAUL
He found that there was virtually no difference in fall rate based on weight.
RACHEL
And that the minor difference he measured was most likely accounted for by air resistance.
PAUL
Now Galileo was not the discoverer of the telescope, but he was knowledgeable enough to make one after he heard about its discovery.
RACHEL
He was however, one of the first people to turn his telescope towards the heavens.
PAUL
And he was the first to publish his observations in common Italian so that every person could learn about his discoveries.
RACHEL
Prior to this, scholars published in Latin, which prevented most people from reading about new ideas and discoveries.
PAUL
Making empirical evidence the authority for knowledge was a threat to the old way of thinking.
RACHEL
So it’s not surprising Galileo experienced some opposition.
PAUL
However, his methods have persisted and created the modern, scientific world of today.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 14th and 15th of February.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
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