... predecessor Nicholas Copernicus, a Polish astronomer who developed the heliocentric theory that the earth rotates daily on its axis and revolves yearly around the sun. In 1610, Galileo published The Starry Messenger, presenting his findings. This new theory went completely against the ancient belief that the earth was the center of the universe and aroused a storm of protest from the Catholic Church ... ." Galileo spent his last eight years of life in seclusion. He was not free to write about his beliefs or observations. In 1638 he became totally blind, and he died a virtual prisoner in ...

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