Nicolaus Copernicus

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Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus

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Copernicus's revolutionary theory: The Sun as the center

Nicolaus Copernicus: heliocentric system

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Nicolaus Copernicus summary

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Nicolaus Copernicus: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	Mikołaj Kopernik • Nikolaus Kopernikus
Born	February 19, 1473 • Toruń • Poland
Died	May 24, 1543 (aged 70) • Poland
Notable Works	“De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri VI”
Subjects Of Study	Earth • Copernican system • heliocentrism • precession of the equinoxes • rotation
Role In	Scientific Revolution

Did You Know?

Many argue that Copernicus's ideas not only were the origin of modern astronomy but also signaled the start of a scientific revolution.

Photos and Videos

Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus

Christian Aristotelian cosmos

Nicolaus Copernicus: heliocentric system

Astronomers Monument

Copernicus, Nicolaus

frontispiece to Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, Ptolemaic & Copernican

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How did Ptolemy explain retrograde motion?

Copernicus's revolutionary theory: The Sun as the center

How we understood the universe throughout history

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Quiz

Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.

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