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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 (contrary to popular belief, [[Galileo]] was not persecuted for supporting the Copernican theory, but because he was disrespectful to the [[Pope]]). <ref>Strobel, Lee. The Case for a Creator. Zondervan 2004</ref> However, the reaction was negative among Protestants who felt it conflicted with some literal interpretations of the Bible, such as the account of how Joshua benefited from the sun standing still as it passed over the earth. "And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher?  So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day."  Joshua 10:13.  But there were few Protestants in Poland then (or now), and Copernicus died without much controversy.  

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 untill 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]]