1. Nicolaus Copernicus

2. Overview Early life Extensive history of geocentric view
Copernicus’ heliocentric view
Impact on astronomy

3. Early Life Born February 19, 1473 in Torun, Poland
Parents were merchants
At age 18, he enrolled at Cracow University to study general studies
In 1495, he studied law and medicine in Italy
1503 returned to Poland and became a priest

4. Defined - Earth centered universe
Geocentric View
Defined - Earth centered universe

5. Geocentric View
Aristotle
Ptolemaeus

6. Geocentric View Aristotle felt Earth was stationary
Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn (only planets known at time), sun, and moon moved around Earth

7. Geocentric View
“Prime mover” was a mystical force behind fixed stars that caused circular motion
Theologians interpreted prime movers as angels

8. Geocentric View Ptolemaeus appeared 500 years after Aristotle’s death
Because objects fell to center of Earth the Earth must be center of the universe

9. Geocentric View Thought stars did not go beyond Saturn
Ptolemy’s views left room in the universe behind stars for heaven an hell
Church adopted Ptolemaeus model of universe as true

10. Heliocentric View
Copernicus was convinced Earth was just another planet that revolved around the sun.
His hypothesis became known as the heliocentric view
Sun centered universe

11. Heliocentric View

12. Impact on Astronomy
Before Copernicus sun was thought to be another planet
Theorized each planet had its own gravitational pull
Earth made rotation daily on axis

13. Impact on Astronomy Took one year for Earth to go around sun
First to position Venus and Mercury correctly with remarkable accuracy

14. Summary Copernicus’ life Longstanding geocentric view
Heliocentric view
Impact on astronomy

15. Questions

16. Works Cited
Hawking, Stephen. On the Shoulders of Giants. Philadelphia: Running, Print.
Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization A Brief History. 4th ed. Belmont: Wadsworth, Print.
Suplee, Curt. Milestones of Science The History of Humankind's Greatest Ideas (reading line). Washington D.C.: National Geographic, Print.