Copernicus, Nicolaus (1473 - 1543)
Polish astronomer who advanced the theory that the Earth and other planets
revolve around the Sun (the "heliocentric" theory). This was highly
controversial at the time, since the prevailing Ptolemaic model
held that the Earth was the center of the universe, and all objects, including
the sun, circle it. The Ptolemaic model had been widely accepted in Europe for
1000 years when Copernicus proposed his model. (It should be noted, however,
that the heliocentric idea was first put forth by Aristarcus of Samos in the
3rd century B.C., a fact known to Copernicus but long ignored by others prior
to him.).
Source: wikipedia, NASA
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