Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus was a Polish astronomer who lived from 1473 to 1543. He is best known for his heliocentric model of the universe, which proposed that the sun, not the Earth, is at the centre of the universe.

Copernicus's model was a radical departure from the prevailing view at the time, which held that the Earth was at the centre of the universe and that the sun and other planets revolved around it. Copernicus's model was based on his observations of the planets and his understanding of geometry.

Copernicus's model was not immediately accepted by the scientific community. It was met with opposition from religious leaders, who believed that it contradicted the Bible. However, Copernicus's model eventually gained acceptance and helped to usher in a new era in astronomy.

The word "Nicolaus Copernicus" is a Latinized form of the Polish name "Mikołaj Kopernik." The Latinized form was used by Copernicus himself, and it is the form of the name that is most commonly used today.