Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance astronomer who challenged the long-held belief that the Earth was the center of the universe. Through careful observation and mathematical reasoning, he proposed the heliocentric model, suggesting that the Sun, not the Earth, is at the center, with planets, including Earth, orbiting around it. This revolutionary idea laid the groundwork for modern astronomy by emphasizing the importance of observation and evidence over tradition. Copernicus's work shifted our understanding of the cosmos and ultimately paved the way for future astronomers like Galileo and Kepler to further explore and refine our understanding of planetary motion.