Nicolas Copernicus

Nicolas Copernicus was a Renaissance-era astronomer who proposed the heliocentric model of the universe, meaning the Sun, not Earth, is at the center. Before him, the widely accepted view was geocentrism, where Earth was considered the center. His ideas, outlined in "De Revolutionibus," challenged long-held beliefs and laid the groundwork for modern astronomy. Copernicus' model explained planetary motions more simply and accurately, sparking a scientific revolution that transformed our understanding of the cosmos. His work marked a critical shift from Earth-centered to Sun-centered cosmology, influencing future scientists like Galileo and Kepler.