GALILEO GALILEI DAY

In Pisa, Italy on 15th of February 1564 a boy was born to become a man which passions would become the foundation of the modern scientific method. His father, Vincenzo Galilei, named him Galilo.

His love of mathematics made him look up to the skies. Taking an interest in spyglass, a device that helps distant objects appear closer, produced the very first telescope. Through it, Galilo was able to be the first man to take a closer look at the moon and find out the it wasn't a smooth ball floating around, but that had an uneven surface, just like Earth. Also, he was the fist man to study Saturn, Venus, Jupiter and discover Jupiter's four moons. Yet, that is not why he spent the last years of his life under house arrest ordered by the Church. It was because he approved of Copernicus' theory that the Earth is not a centre of the universe, but the Sun. Earth and other planets revolving around the Sun.

In many ways, Galileo is similar to Darwin. His unorthodox thinking and observations had the same impact on the early sciences and almost the same effect on the church and its followers. That is why we should commemorate Galielo with the same honer and intensity.

If you really really wanted a telescope, today would be the perfect day to make the purchase. That being the case, I wouldn't expect you to invite friends over and have a look too, you'd want it all for yourself. Which is fair enough. But if you already do have the gadget, organize a little dinner/birthday celebration for your friends and family and gaze people. Or grab that sleeping bag, or a whole mattress, grab your children and sleep under the skies. Follow the constellations and the North Star. Count the shooting stars and make wishes. There is a StarWalk app through which you can see the starts above you, under you and there are names and lines connecting them too. Sadly, I find it more interesting than the telescope. If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, way under...you lucky! Read about stars and your stars. Go camping. Find your own star and name it. Organize a planetarium visit in your city or close by.

'I've loved stars too fondly to be fearful of the night' - Sarah Williams

Look up, its beautiful and intimidating.

Happy Galileo Galilei Day!!!!