Galileo Matters More Than Ever on His 450th Birthday
The scientist's insights continue to enrich our world.
Not every astronomer can claim to have enjoyed both the attention of the Inquisition and the Indigo Girls, but then again, Galileo was no ordinary genius.
On the 450th anniversary of his birth today, February 15, 2014, it's worth taking a telescopic look at the achievements of this unparalleled genius of the Renaissance. Born in 1564 in Pisa, Italy, Galileo lived to the age of 77, a life span that saw the start of the scientific revolution in Europe. (See also: "Galileo's Telescope at 400.")
Galileo is still in the news. An optical illusion he discovered in the 1600s caused Venus to appear much larger and blurrier—a "radiant crown," as Galileo called it—when seen through a telescope
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