Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus was a Polish astronomer and mathematician who was a proponent of the view of an Earth in daily motion about its axis and in yearly motion around a stationary sun. This theory profoundly altered later workers' view of the universe, but was rejected by the Catholic church.

Throughout the seven years he spent in Lidzbark-Warminski, Copernicus read several books on the subject of astronomy. By 1508, Copernicus had begun developing his own celestial model, a heliocentric planetary system, in which he named the sun, rather than the earth, as the center of the solar system. Though his theory was viewed as revolutionary and met with some controversy, still Copernicus's heliocentric solar system proved to be more detailed and accurate. In the early 1500s, Copernicus further developed his heliocentric model, and went on to design and apply a complex mathematical system for proving his theory.

Heliocentric Solar System

1473 - 1543

Nicolaus Copernicus

Death and Legacy

Copernicus died in his bed on May 24, 1543 in Frauenburg, Poland. As Kepler worked on expanding upon and correcting the errors of Copernicus's heliocentric theory, Copernicus became a symbol of the brave scientist standing alone, defending his theories against the common beliefs of his time.