Nicolaus Copernicus (in some contexts)

Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance astronomer who proposed a heliocentric model of the universe, suggesting that the Earth and other planets orbit the Sun. His ideas challenged the long-held geocentric view that placed Earth at the center. Published in his work "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium" in 1543, Copernicus's theories laid the groundwork for modern astronomy, influencing later scientists like Galileo and Kepler. This shift in perspective was crucial in changing our understanding of the cosmos and spurred the Scientific Revolution, fundamentally altering humanity's view of its place in the universe.