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Copernicus produced a new theory published in 1543 that had the Sun at the centre but in other respects it was similar to the Ptolemaic theory with its circles and epicycles.
He thought his model was simpler because many of the epicycles were smaller, even though there were just as many as in the Ptolemaic theory. We now know that this is because the Ptolemaic theory with the Earth at the centre required larger epicycles to 'take out' the Earth's motion round the Sun. In other words in the Ptolemaic model the Sun's orbit was the 'reverse' of the Earth's orbit. To that extent the Copernican theory was simpler.
Kepler's theory of 1609 did away with all the old circles and replaced them all with elliptical orbits for the planets, each one in its own plane, close to the ecliptic. He retained the idea that the Sun is at the centre, and devised the Three Laws of planetary motion.
After a full dynamical theory was produced by Newton that explained the elliptical orbits and Kepler's Laws, more and more people accepted that it was right, and that is the situation today, with tiny corrections due to Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.
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Who was Nicolaus Copernicus and why is he important?
Copernicus proposed that the Sun was the center of the universe.
Why was Nicolaus Copernicus famous?
Nicholas Copernicus was famous because he discovered that the earth was not in the center of the universe, but instead the sun was.
How did Nicolaus Copernicus live his life?
He studied the planets and the sun most of all. He wanted to discover if the sun truly was the center of everything. He studied and studied until he realized the sun is at the center.
How did Nicolaus Copernicus impact society?
Nicolaus Copernicus was the first to establish the theory that the Sun, and not the Earth, was the center of the solar system. This heliocentric theory changed the former one set in 150 AD by Ptolemy. It had a huge impact, forcing the Catholic Church, mired in Ptolemaic thought and timekeeping, to admit wrong and institute change.
Did Copernicus believe in the Earth-centered theory?
No Nicolaus Copernicus did not believe in the earth centered theory he believed that the earth and other planets center and revolve around the sun.
Who was Nicolaus Copernicus and why is he important?
Copernicus proposed that the Sun was the center of the universe.
Who thought you were going around the sun?
It was Nicolaus Copernicus.
Who determined that the sun is the center of the universe?
Nicolaus Copernicus found that the sun is in center of the universe
Who discover that the sun is the center f the universe?
Nicolaus copernicus told that sun was
What is N Copernicus famous for?
Nicolaus Copernicus was the first person to declare that the world revolved around the sun. Before that time, people thought that Earth was the center of the universe.
What was nicolaus Copernicus theory?
copernican system -the sun is the center of theuniverse
What did nicolaus Copernicus discoverabout the universe?
he found out the sun was the center of the universe
What did Nicolaus Copernicus think your solar system was?
Nicolaus Copernicus proposed that the Sun, not the Earth, was the center of the solar system and that the planets, including Earth, revolved around the Sun in circular orbits. This heliocentric model challenged the prevailing geocentric view of the time.
Who is was the polish mathematician who believed that the sun was the center of the solar system?
Nicolaus Copernicus
Why was Nicolaus Copernicus famous?
Nicholas Copernicus was famous because he discovered that the earth was not in the center of the universe, but instead the sun was.
Nicolaus Copernicus what did he do?
nicolaus is the father of modern astronomy. He proved that the planets revolve around the sun and that the center of the universe is not earth
What did Copernicus give to the understanding of astronomy?
Nicolaus Copernicus challenged the geocentric theory and presented the heliocentric theory. The heliocentric system placed the sun at the center of the universe.
