There wasn't much of an established practice of publication and peer review back in those days. Most often, people like Galileo just corresponded with like-minded people. Or sometimes published books. As for the tides, yes, he was off a bit there, but that's not what got him convicted for heresy. A few links, for those who may be interested:
The Crime of Galileo: Indictment and Abjuration of 1633. The heresy confession.
Trial of Galileo Galilei in 1633.
Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany. Galileo's opinion about science/scripture conflicts.
Ichneumon's excellent presentation of the issues. FreeRepublic post #31.
Thanks PH for your excellent links in post #221....as always, you have provided some excellent reference material..
I especially enjoyed Ichneumons post about Galileo, and was especially touched at many of Galileos thoughts, this one being most excellent...."I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
This quote of Galileos, spoken so long ago, is as fresh, and relevant today, as it was in his day...
Thanks to Darwin Central...