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| '''Nicolaus''' (or '''Nicholas''') '''Copernicus''' (]-]) was an |
'''Nicolaus''' (or '''Nicholas''') '''Copernicus''' (]-]) was an European ], who developed a heliocentric (Sun-centered) theory of the ]. He was also a church canon, an astrologer, and a doctor. | ||
| His major theory was published in the book ''De revolutionibus orbium coelestium'' ("On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres") in the year of his death ], even though he had arrived at it several decades earlier. This book marks the beginning of the shift from a ] (and ]) universe. Copernicus held that the Earth is another planet revolving around the fixed sun once a year, and turning on its axis once a day. He arrived at the correct order of the planets and explained the precession of the equinoxes correctly by a slow change in the position of the Earth's rotational axis. His theory, unfortunately, still had some serious defects, among them circular as opposed to elliptical orbits and ], that made it no more precise in predicting ephemerides than the then current tables based on ]'s model. But it had a large influence on scientists such as ] and ], who adopted, championed and, in Kepler's case, improved the model. The book was put on the ] in ] by the ]. Galileo's observation of | His major theory was published in the book ''De revolutionibus orbium coelestium'' ("On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres") in the year of his death ], even though he had arrived at it several decades earlier. This book marks the beginning of the shift from a ] (and ]) universe. Copernicus held that the Earth is another planet revolving around the fixed sun once a year, and turning on its axis once a day. He arrived at the correct order of the planets and explained the precession of the equinoxes correctly by a slow change in the position of the Earth's rotational axis. His theory, unfortunately, still had some serious defects, among them circular as opposed to elliptical orbits and ], that made it no more precise in predicting ephemerides than the then current tables based on ]'s model. But it had a large influence on scientists such as ] and ], who adopted, championed and, in Kepler's case, improved the model. The book was put on the ] in ] by the ]. Galileo's observation of | ||
| the ] of ] produced the first observational evidence for Copernicus' theory. | the ] of ] produced the first observational evidence for Copernicus' theory. | ||
| Copernicus was born in 1473 in ]. He was ten years of age when his father, a wealthy businessman and copper trader, died. His uncle, Lucas Watzenrode, ] of ], raised him and his three other siblings. His brother Andreas became canon in ]. A sister, Barbara, became a ] nun and the other sister, Katharina, married a businessman and city councillor, Barthel Gertner. After studying in ], where his teacher was Albert Blar (Albert de Brudzewo) and in Italy, Copernicus came to live and work in Frauenburg, Ermeland. Copernicus worked with duke ] on coin reform and early on published his findings on value of money. In 1514 he made his writing, "Commentariolus" available to his friends. In 1539 ] arrived in Frauenburg. ] had arranged with several astronomers for Rheticus to visit and study with them. | Copernicus was born in 1473 in ], ]. He was ten years of age when his father, a wealthy businessman and copper trader, died. His uncle, Lucas Watzenrode, ] of ], raised him and his three other siblings. His brother Andreas became canon in ]. A sister, Barbara, became a ] nun and the other sister, Katharina, married a businessman and city councillor, Barthel Gertner. After studying in ], where his teacher was Albert Blar (Albert de Brudzewo) and in Italy, Copernicus came to live and work in Frauenburg, Ermeland. Copernicus worked with duke ] on coin reform and early on published his findings on value of money. In 1514 he made his writing, "Commentariolus" available to his friends. In 1539 ] arrived in Frauenburg. ] had arranged with several astronomers for Rheticus to visit and study with them. | ||
| Legend says that a printed copy of ''De revolutionibus'' was put in Copernicus's hands shortly before his death so that he could say goodbye to his ''opus vitae''. He awoke from his ] induced ], looked at his book, and died peacefully. Copernicus was buried in the Frauenburg Cathedral. | Legend says that a printed copy of ''De revolutionibus'' was put in Copernicus's hands shortly before his death so that he could say goodbye to his ''opus vitae''. He awoke from his ] induced ], looked at his book, and died peacefully. Copernicus was buried in the Frauenburg Cathedral. | ||
Revision as of 11:52, 16 May 2002
Nicolaus (or Nicholas) Copernicus (1473-1543) was an European astronomer, who developed a heliocentric (Sun-centered) theory of the solar system. He was also a church canon, an astrologer, and a doctor.
His major theory was published in the book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium ("On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres") in the year of his death 1543, even though he had arrived at it several decades earlier. This book marks the beginning of the shift from a geocentric (and anthropocentric) universe. Copernicus held that the Earth is another planet revolving around the fixed sun once a year, and turning on its axis once a day. He arrived at the correct order of the planets and explained the precession of the equinoxes correctly by a slow change in the position of the Earth's rotational axis. His theory, unfortunately, still had some serious defects, among them circular as opposed to elliptical orbits and epicycles, that made it no more precise in predicting ephemerides than the then current tables based on Ptolemy's model. But it had a large influence on scientists such as Galileo and Kepler, who adopted, championed and, in Kepler's case, improved the model. The book was put on the Index of Forbidden Books in 1616 by the Roman Catholic Church. Galileo's observation of the phases of Venus produced the first observational evidence for Copernicus' theory.
Copernicus was born in 1473 in Thorn, Poland. He was ten years of age when his father, a wealthy businessman and copper trader, died. His uncle, Lucas Watzenrode, Prince-bishop of Ermeland, raised him and his three other siblings. His brother Andreas became canon in Frauenburg. A sister, Barbara, became a Benedictine nun and the other sister, Katharina, married a businessman and city councillor, Barthel Gertner. After studying in Krakow, where his teacher was Albert Blar (Albert de Brudzewo) and in Italy, Copernicus came to live and work in Frauenburg, Ermeland. Copernicus worked with duke Albert of Prussia on coin reform and early on published his findings on value of money. In 1514 he made his writing, "Commentariolus" available to his friends. In 1539 Georg Joachim Rheticus arrived in Frauenburg. Philipp Melanchthon had arranged with several astronomers for Rheticus to visit and study with them.
Legend says that a printed copy of De revolutionibus was put in Copernicus's hands shortly before his death so that he could say goodbye to his opus vitae. He awoke from his stroke induced coma, looked at his book, and died peacefully. Copernicus was buried in the Frauenburg Cathedral.
Frombork, Braniewo, Olsztyn are the current names used by Poland for Frauenburg, Braunsberg and Allenstein.