15th January, 2009
| For those who haven’t noticed, this year is “The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009).” The International Year of Astronomy will involve 135 nations and thousands of events around the world. It marks the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei. |
>> Galileo and the four large moons of Jupiter, which he discovered with his telescope. Portrait: by Justus Sustermans, painted in 1636. Jupiter and Galilean satellites: NASA/JPL. [Click to enlarge] |
| However, astronomers have little to celebrate in 2009. They have usurped the role of the church and cast out a modern-day Galileo!
Astronomers are repeating the mistakes of the Roman Catholic Church in Galileo’s day by refusing to accept what telescopes are showing them. The fear is the same – of having cherished dogma swept away, and with it their authority. It seems to be the nature of authorities to nurture and perpetuate self-servingmyths. |

