He was one of the first to observe sunspots (in 1611), although he took these to be satellites of the Sun. His book Rosa Ursina was published in 1630; by this time, he agreed with Galileo that sunspots were on the Sun's surface or in its atmosphere.
Because the Maunder Minimum subsequently drastically reduced sunspot activity for many decades, his book remained the standard reference work on sunspots for a long time.
He remained opposed to the heliocentric theory until his death.
He felt enmity towards Galileo over a dispute about which of them had discovered sunspots first, and this may have been an important factor in Galileo's troubles with the Catholic church over Galileo's support of the heliocentric theory.
It was thus that in March, 1611, he discovered the existence of sun-spots, a phenomenon so contrary to the philosophical notions of the time that his superiors did not wish him to publish it under his own name for fear of ridicule.
Scheiner's special claim, that he was the first to make continuous observations of scientific value, cannot be disputed.
Scheiner was one of the leading astronomers of his time, and possessed to an uncommon degree the true scientific spirit.
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