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Copernicus was able to estimate the distances of the planets to the Sun, relative to the Earth's distance to the Sun, and correctly gave the order of the planets in distance to the Sun. Aristarchus was only able to compute the distance from the Earth to the Moon, and the radius of the Moon, and to crudely estimate the Earth's distance to the Sun. Copernicus also estimated the sidereal length of the Martian year.

Copernicus was able to estimate the distances of the planets to the Sun, relative to the Earth's distance to the Sun, and correctly gave the order of the planets in distance to the Sun. Aristarchus was only able to compute the distance from the Earth to the Moon, and the radius of the Moon, and to crudely estimate the Earth's distance to the Sun. Copernicus also estimated the sidereal length of the Martian year.

The reception to his work was initially positive within the [[Catholic Church]]. Years later, the Church reconsidered in connection with claims by [[Galileo]] that the Copernican model had been proven correct. Copernicus' book was suspended until corrected by the [[Index Librorum Prohibitorum|Index]] of the Catholic Church in 1616, because the Pythagorean doctrine of the motion of the Earth and the immobility of the Sun "is false and altogether opposed to the [[Holy Scripture]]". <ref> Decree of General Congregation of the Index, March 5, 1616 (Translated from Latin)</ref> <ref>Trial of Galileo [http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/galileo/admonition.html]</ref> These corrections were indicated in 1620, and nine sentences had to be either omitted or changed.<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04352b.htm]</ref> The book stayed on the Index until 1758. In the 20th century, scientists adopted a view closer to the Church scientists. The consensus is now that motion is relative, that Earth-centered and Sun-centered coordinate systems are equally valid for astronomical calculations, that Galileo's main argument for the Copernican system was fallacious,<ref>Galileo argued that the motion of the Earth caused the tides.</ref> and that the doctrine of the immobility of the Sun is false.<ref>The Sun orbits around a black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.</ref>

The reception to his work was initially positive within the [[Catholic Church]]. Years later, the Church reconsidered in connection with claims by [[Galileo]] that the Copernican model had been proven correct. Copernicus' book was suspended until corrected by the [[Index Librorum Prohibitorum|Index]] of the Catholic Church in 1616, because the Pythagorean doctrine of the motion of the Earth and the immobility of the Sun "is false and altogether opposed to the [[Holy Scripture]]".<ref>Decree of General Congregation of the Index, March 5, 1616 (Translated from Latin)</ref><ref>[http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/galileo/admonition.html Trial of Galileo]</ref> These corrections were indicated in 1620, and nine sentences had to be either omitted or changed.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04352b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]</ref> The book stayed on the Index until 1758. In the 20th century, scientists adopted a view closer to the Church scientists. The consensus is now that motion is relative, that Earth-centered and Sun-centered coordinate systems are equally valid for astronomical calculations, that Galileo's main argument for the Copernican system was fallacious,<ref>Galileo argued that the motion of the Earth caused the tides.</ref> and that the doctrine of the immobility of the Sun is false.<ref>The Sun orbits around a black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.</ref>

[[Image:Copernicus_system.gif|thumb|right|300px|The Copernican System]]

[[Image:Copernicus_system.gif|thumb|right|300px|The Copernican System]]

In some respects, it was actually less accurate, as more epicycles had to be added (in place of Ptolemy's [[equant]]).  

In some respects, it was actually less accurate, as more epicycles had to be added (in place of Ptolemy's [[equant]]).  

* ... 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==