Ten facts about Galileo Galilei

1: Born 1564, near Pisa, Italy, son of musician 2: Professor of maths in Pisa, then Padua 3: Constructed telescope 1609; 4: Made many astronomical discoveries, eg mountains and valleys on surface of moon; 5: Apppointed court mathematician in Florence; 6: In 1641, accused of heresy because believed Copernicus' theory that sun at centre of solar system, whereas most people believed earth was.

7: In 1616, forbidden by church from teaching his theories; 8: In 1632, again accused of heresy, after wrote a book giving arguments for and against Coopernicus' theory; 9: Convicted by Inquisition in Rome, and sentenced to house arrest; 10: Died 1642