Galileo Between Jesuits: The Fault Is in the Stars

In the middle of seventeenth century, Andr\'e Tacquet, S.J. briefly discussed a scientific argument regarding structure Copernican universe, and commented on Galileo Galilei's discussion that same -- Galileo's in turn being commentary version by Christoph Scheiner, The was based observations sizes stars. This exchange involving two Jesuits illustrates how through much science meaning measurements, calculations supported view universe which stars were not other suns, but dim bodies, far larger than sun. Johannes Kepler emphasized this, especially arguing against Giordano Bruno. Jesuit astronomers like Tacquet Scheiner understood this. Those who might have listened to would likewise this Robert Bellarmine, for example, whose role debate over Copernicanism is well known. To many, such was, words Dialogue character Sagredo, "beyond belief," no modern many distant suns be scientifically supportable until after Tacquet's death 1660. century looked radically different from as understand it, recognizing fact allows interesting questions asked actions those, responding work Copernicus.