Which existing cosmological model did the observation of moons orbiting Jupiter directly strike at the heart of?
Answer
The Ptolemaic system
The observation that Jupiter carried its own entourage struck at the Ptolemaic system, which held that the Earth was the stationary, unique center of all celestial motion.
Related Questions
When did Galileo first notice the peculiar points of light aligned near Jupiter?What was the title of Galileo's publication detailing his findings regarding the Jovian moons?To whom did Galileo initially dedicate the four newly discovered moons, calling them the "Medicean Stars"?Which existing cosmological model did the observation of moons orbiting Jupiter directly strike at the heart of?What major cosmological idea was strongly supported by the demonstration that orbital centers other than Earth were possible?What was Galileo’s primary technical contribution regarding the telescope used for the discovery?What aspect of early modern science does the initial naming convention of the moons highlight?What new scientific discipline was Galileo's systematic tracking of the four moons intended to establish a precedent for?What did Galileo's successful tracking of the Jovian system prove about nature?What modern mission is mentioned as standing directly on the foundation laid by Galileo's 1610 observations?What did Galileo's method validate as the ultimate arbiter of physical reality for the scientific revolution?