Nicolaus Copernicus, the 16th-century astronomer whose findings were condemned by the Catholic Church as heretical, has been reburied by Polish priests as a hero, nearly 500 years after he was laid to rest in an unmarked grave.

Galileo’s invention of the astronomical telescope four centuries ago will be celebrated by stargazers all over the world next year.

Aliens could be out there, and believing that the universe may contain extraterrestrial life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican’s chief astronomer says.

ON October 31, 1992, Pope John Paul II apologised on behalf of the Vatican for the persecution of Galileo Galilei over 350 years earlier. Poor Galileo had the nerve to say that the sun, not the earth, was the centre of our universe.

IT will take a smart newcomer to lower the colours of Miss Beatrix in the opening Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden at Leopardstown tonight.

DAVID WACHMAN'S Country Song made it two from two with a decent performance in the Irish Stallion Farms' EBF Race at Tipperary last night.

GALILEAN, stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time, gets the nap to land the Tipperary Races Support Munster Maiden at Tipperary this evening.