Due to the various astronomical discoveries between 1609-1610, Galileo wrote
The Sidereus Nuncius ( The Starry Messenger.) This work announced his discoveries of
Jupiter’s satellites. The announcement of the satellites and there dedication to Medici
had a great impact on his returning to Tuscany as the “Philosopher and Mathematician of
the Grand Duke”(Cosimo II.) He began studying Jupiter’s satellites more closely in 1611.
He returned to the problem again in 1636 and 1637 in an attempt to use the satellites to
determine longitude at sea.
Galileo is often called the “Father of Modern Science.” This would not be
if he had not excelled in the areas of mathematics and astronomy. There is little doubt
about the impact that his work in mathematics had on the astronomy findings that made
him famous. His devotion to these two fields of study has had a great impact on modern
applications of mathematics and to the continuing progression of astronomy. |
