Mikołaj Kopernik (Nicolaus Copernicus)

Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance-era astronomer who revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos by proposing the heliocentric model, that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun. Before his work, the widely accepted view was the geocentric model, where Earth was at the universe's center. His groundbreaking ideas, detailed in his book *De revolutionibus orbium coelestium*, challenged long-held beliefs and laid the foundation for modern astronomy. Copernicus’ work marked a major shift in science, inspiring future astronomers and changing humanity’s perspective on our place in the universe.