Copernicus believed the planetary motions were due to:
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Copernicus challenged Aristotle's theories of planetary motion due to observations that didn't align with the geocentric model, particularly the retrograde motion of planets. Through his own observations and mathematical calculations, Copernicus proposed a heliocentric model where the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, providing a simpler explanation for the observed phenomena in the sky.
The scientist that made highly accurate measurements that first disapproved the theories of Ptolmy and Copernicus was called Brahe.
Galileo Galilei was the Italian astronomer who supported Copernicus's theories by using his own observations through a telescope to provide evidence for the heliocentric model of the solar system.
Aristotle believed in a geocentric model, with Earth at the center of the universe. Ptolemy further developed this idea with his geocentric model that included epicycles to explain planetary motion. Copernicus proposed a heliocentric model, with the Sun at the center of the solar system, challenging the geocentric view. Galileo's observations with a telescope provided evidence to support Copernicus's heliocentric model, leading to the acceptance of the heliocentric theory over the geocentric view.
All the theories have Mercury and Venus between the Earth and the Sun.
The Catholic Church did not take any direct action against Nicholas Copernicus after he published his theories. However, his heliocentric model of the universe was met with skepticism by some church officials and was eventually placed on the Index of Forbidden Books until revised in 1758. Despite this, Copernicus himself was not persecuted by the Church during his lifetime.