Nicolaus Copernicus Fernando Torres W. Stiern Middle School Ms. Marshall H.S.S. 7.10

Introduction  Copernicus was a Polish astronomer  Lived from 1473 to 1543  Was a Roman Catholic  Considered as the father of modern astronomy  Discovered that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the universe  Theories opposed church teachings which overthrew the reliance of popular ideas of ancient Greek philosophers  Provided a model for the scientific method

Birth of Copernicus Born on February 19, 1473 in Thorn, (now Torun) Poland Parents were Barbara Watzcelrode and Nicolaus Koppernigk Name in Poland is either Niklas Koppernigk or Mikolaj Kopernik Belonged to a family of wealthy merchants

Childhood Had two sisters and a brother: Had two sisters and a brother: Andreas/ Andrzej, who became an Augustinian canon at Frombork Barbara, who became a Benedictine nun Katharina/ Katarzyna, who married Barthel Gertner, a business man and city councillor Was the youngest one in the family Was the youngest one in the family At the age of ten, Copernicus went to live with his uncle, who was a prince and a bishop, after his father died At the age of ten, Copernicus went to live with his uncle, who was a prince and a bishop, after his father died

Basic Studies Entered the University of Cracow in 1491 and studied mathematics and painting Also studied liberal arts- which included astronomy and astrology Left before he completed his degree in 1494 Uncle arranged for Copernicus to serve as a canon( church official) at the cathedral at Frombork Job provided Copernicus with income for his studies Studied religious law and medicine at the universities of Bologna and Padua Gained a doctorate in canon law at the University of Ferrara

Further Studies in Astronomy In Italy attended the astronomical lectures of Professor Domenico Maria Novara Copernicus’s earliest observations were in the year 1497 On March 9, 1497 observed and recorded an eclipse of the star Aldebaran In the 1500ths, he lectured in Rome about mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and theology Attended a conference in Rome about the calendar reform where people argued that if the Earth was the center of the sun then why were they getting inaccurate calendars Witnessed a lunar eclipse on November 6, 1500 Returned to Poland in either 1505 or 1506 after completing his studies in 1503

Copernicus’s Job as Canon Returned to Poland in his early 30’sReturned to Poland in his early 30’s Served as a canon for 40 yearsServed as a canon for 40 years Assisted the bishop in :Assisted the bishop in : governing the diocese( the territorial authority of a bishop), administering church property, and used his medical training on the clergy and the poor

Nightly Watches  Often watched the night sky atop a roofless tower of stone that he built himself  Did not use a telescope in his observations  Made regular observations about the path of the sun, moon, and planets  Tried to calculate the planet’s orbits  With careful observation, he learned much about the universe

Copernicus’s Theories Early astronomers had suggested a heliocentric universe ( a universe where the sun is the center of the universe) Immediately religious church leaders rejected these ideas, wanting their view of the universe to be the only one Copernicus believed that Ptolemy’s theory contained flaws The idea that stars rotated around the earth and that the sun moved around the earth every night and day was complicated Copernicus observed that the planets changed in brightness and even moved backwards’ like Mars Wondered if the earth moved along with the planets- third from the sun, which set Mars back to fourth This explained Mar’s backward motion Concluded that all planets orbit the sun Proposed that the earth revolves yearly around the sun Theorized that the earth moved on its axis

De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium This book explained Copernicus’s theories This book explained Copernicus’s theories Called On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres or De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium in Poland Called On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres or De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium in Poland Published in 1543 Published in 1543 Demonstrated how the earth's motion could be used to explain the movements of other universal bodies Demonstrated how the earth's motion could be used to explain the movements of other universal bodies Copernicus refused to publish his theories, afraid that he will be exiled Copernicus refused to publish his theories, afraid that he will be exiled In 1530, allowed scholars to review his work In 1530, allowed scholars to review his work Georg Rheticus, used Copernicus’s permission to publish his book, but was forced into exile Georg Rheticus, used Copernicus’s permission to publish his book, but was forced into exile The job of publishing Copernicus’s book was left to a Lutheran Minister, Abdreas Osiander The job of publishing Copernicus’s book was left to a Lutheran Minister, Abdreas Osiander Copernicus died before he ever saw his book published Copernicus died before he ever saw his book published Dedicated to Pope Paul III Dedicated to Pope Paul III

Roman Catholic Church’s Action Banned On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres in 1616 and it remained on a list of forbidden books until the 1800’s Religious leaders disagreed with Copernicus’s theories because they contradicted their view of the universe Some scholars understood Copernicus’s theories but they did not openly oppose the church

Death Scientists and astronomers like Galileo and Johannes Kepler helped prove some of Copernicus’s theories Scientists and astronomers like Galileo and Johannes Kepler helped prove some of Copernicus’s theories Copernicus died on May 24, 1543 in Fraunberg Copernicus died on May 24, 1543 in Fraunberg Was unmarried and bared no children Was unmarried and bared no children

Bibliography  Ellavich C. Marie. Scientist's: their Lives and Works  Boltzmann, Cuvier. The Grolier Library of Science Biographies. 1996