Galileo
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Galileo Gallilei
1564-1642 Italian astronomer who perfected the telescope and was persecuted for adhering to the theory of Copernicus.
In 1609, Galileo perfected the telescope. It was modeled after other telescopes made in Europe. With it, he was able to witness a supernova, observe our moon, and document the phases of Venus. He also located sunspots. These discoveries helped support the Copernican system.
This is what the Catholic Church had to say in its decision against Galileo: "The doctrine that the earth is neither the center of the universe nor immovable, but moves even with a daily rotation, is absurd, and both philosophically and theologically false, and at the least an error of faith." Nevertheless, it moves.