Secrets of the Dead (2000)

S18E1 Galileo's Moon

The publication of Galileo's Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messenger) in 1610 ignited a scientific transformation. Through his observations of the moon and the moons of Jupiter, Galileo demonstrated that Earth is not the universe's focal point. Originally, 550 copies were printed, with around 150 still in existence today. In 2005, a copy featuring Galileo's signature and what appeared to be original watercolor illustrations of the moon's phases surfaced, creating a global stir 400 years later. However, this excitement turned to disillusionment in 2012 when it was revealed to be a forgery.