Renaissance Scientists By 19tomasej 100 Ptolemy Ptolemy Egyption astronomer, thought world was geocentric. Apr 8, 1473 Copernicus Copernicus Renaissance man, thought world was helicentric.. Apr 10, 1564 Galileo Galileo Proved world heliocentric, invented the thermometer. Apr 9, 1572 Brahe Brahe Danish, discovered first supernova, 700 stars Apr 10, 1609 Kepler Kepler Elliptical orbit, principles of planetary motion Apr 10, 1688 Newton Newton Newton’s law, discovered how gravity works.