The Aristotelian notion, that celestial differ from terrestrial bodies in being incorruptible, received a rude shock from the discoveries of Galileo, that there are mountains and valleys in the moon like those of the earth, that the sun is not perfect, but has spots on his face, and that he turns on his axis instead of being in a state of majestic rest.

The apparition of new stars had already thrown serious doubts on this theory of incorruptibility.
These and many other beautiful telescopic discoveries tended to the establishment of the truth of the Copernican theory and gave unbounded alarm to the Church.

By the low and ignorant ecclesiastics they were denounced as deceptions or frauds.

Some affirmed that the telescope might be relied on well enough for terrestrial objects, but with the heavenly bodies it was altogether a different affair.

Others declared that its invention was a mere application of Aristotle's remark that stars could be seen in the daytime from the bottom of a deep well.
Galileo was accused of imposture, heresy, blasphemy, atheism.