Heliocentric Theory

The heliocentric theory is the idea that the Sun, rather than Earth, is at the center of the solar system. This model, proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus in the 16th century, explains that planets, including Earth, orbit the Sun in circular or elliptical paths. It challenged earlier beliefs that Earth was the center of the universe. The heliocentric model better accounts for observed planetary motions and was later supported by observations from astronomers like Galileo and Kepler. It laid the foundation for modern astronomy by shifting our understanding from a geocentric (Earth-centered) view to a Sun-centered one.