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[[Image:Nicholas_copernicus.gif|thumb|right|150px|Nicholas Copernicus]]

[[Image:Nicholas_copernicus.gif|thumb|right|150px|Nicholas Copernicus]]

'''Nicolaus Copernicus''' (Polish:Mikołaj Kopernik, 1473-1543) was a [[Polish]] scientist, who published a model of the [[solar system]] that combined the [[heliocentrism]] of [[Aristarchus]] with the epicycles of [[Ptolemy]]. "Finally we shall place the Sun himself at the center of the Universe.  All this is suggested by the systematic procession of events and the harmony of the whole Universe, if only we face the facts, as they say, 'with both eyes open.'"  

'''Nicolaus Copernicus''' (Polish:Mikołaj Kopernik, 1473-1543) was a [[Polish]] scientist, who published a model of the [[solar system]] that combined the [[heliocentrism]] of [[Aristarchus]] with the epicycles of [[Ptolemy]]. "Finally we shall place the Sun himself at the center of the Universe.  All this is suggested by the systematic procession of events and the harmony of the whole Universe, if only we face the facts, as they say, 'with both eyes open.'"  

* ... the original Copernican model was approximately as accurate as the Ptolemaic but performed worse for some planets. Galileo and Copernicus used perfect circles to model planetary motion.<ref> [http://www.scientus.org/Galileo-Battle-for-Heavens.html Galileo's Battle for the Heavens]</ref>

* ... the original Copernican model was approximately as accurate as the Ptolemaic but performed worse for some planets. Galileo and Copernicus used perfect circles to model planetary motion.<ref> [http://www.scientus.org/Galileo-Battle-for-Heavens.html Galileo's Battle for the Heavens]</ref>

It had no compelling physical arguments for its superiority, and it proposed no experiments for testing its novel features.  

It had no compelling physical arguments for its superiority, and it proposed no experiments for testing its novel features.

   

   

Copernicus's main argument in favor of his theory was that it was aesthetically more pleasing as it allowed the planets to move in uniform circular motion, an idea later proven false by Kepler.  Many of the ancient Greek arguments for and against [[heliocentrism]] remained unresolved for some time. <ref>Ancient Greeks objected to Aristarchus's heliocentrim because (1) we don't feel the Earth's motion, (2) unattached objects don't fly off, and (3) no annual stellar parallax. [http://physics.gmu.edu/~jevans/astr103/CourseNotes/history_greekGeocentricHeliocentric.html] Stellar parallax was not measured until 1838, while (1) and (2) were resolved by the work of [[Isaac Newton]].</ref>

Copernicus's main argument in favor of his theory was that it was aesthetically more pleasing as it allowed the planets to move in uniform circular motion, an idea later proven false by Kepler.  Many of the ancient Greek arguments for and against [[heliocentrism]] remained unresolved for some time. <ref>Ancient Greeks objected to Aristarchus's heliocentrim because (1) we don't feel the Earth's motion, (2) unattached objects don't fly off, and (3) no annual stellar parallax. [http://physics.gmu.edu/~jevans/astr103/CourseNotes/history_greekGeocentricHeliocentric.html] Stellar parallax was not measured until 1838, while (1) and (2) were resolved by the work of [[Isaac Newton]].</ref>

==Modern Ideas==

==Modern Ideas==

The [[Copernican Principle]] is named after Copernicus. This viewpoint states that the [[Earth]] has no special place in the universe, but it was not espoused by Copernicus.  

The [[Copernican Principle]] is named after Copernicus. This viewpoint states that the [[Earth]] has no special place in the universe, but it was not espoused by Copernicus.  

== Notes ==

== Notes ==