“Yes, but there were many complications in his case. He (Galileo) was one of many proponents of Copernicus’s heliocentric theory of the solar system, published 100 years previously, which was unproven—because it couldn’t yet be proven. The technology to do so wasn’t there. “
Copernicus didn’t publish his major work till his death because he was afraid of the Christian Church.
Galileo showed that the planets orbited the sun by documenting the phases of Venus.
Fear of persecution by the Christian church is always remediable by finding refuge in the Christian God.
It's hard to publish under those conditions. He was ill, not dead.
afraid of the Christian Church
Not sure what that means. It was a novel theory. Not just the Church found it extraordinary, but everyone--starting with other scientists. But as I say, the Pope of that time was very interested in his work, and his own bishop insisted he publish everything he had.
Galileo showed that the planets orbited the sun by documenting the phases of Venus
. . . but nothing could be proven because there were no telescopes with fine enough resolution until the 19th century. Showing isn't proving.