The refusal of Galileo to accept on faith the authority of Aristotle and other classical scholars created severe problems for him. For the modern world, it provided new avenues along which science could pass. This text, vividly illustrated and diagramed, charts the contributions of Galileo--his experiments with motion, gravity, and astronomy. The text further traces his influence on succeeding scientists, showing the far reaching effect his investigation of the heavens with a spy glass has had in the field of science and the exploration of space. A compact and informative book, factually illustrated by Lee J. Ames; A convenient supplement to elementary and junior highschool science courses.