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You are here: Home / Space / When Did Polish Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus Propose That the Earth Rotated Around the Sun and Why?

When Did Polish Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus Propose That the Earth Rotated Around the Sun and Why?

May 9, 2020 by Karen Hill

The acceptance of the fact that Earth rotated around the Sun was a long time coming.

In 1543, the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus published De Revolutionibus, which stated that the planets revolved around the Sun.

His theories, however, disagreed with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, and the church was the most powerful social and political organization of the time.

Ideas such as the heliocentric model, or Sun-centered model of the universe were considered heresy, punishable by death.

So, while some other astronomers accepted Copernicus’s model, they were understandably afraid to admit it.

In 1632, Galileo Galilei, one of the most brilliant astronomers of all time, finally published a book defending Copernicus’s view.

The Roman Catholic Church brought Galileo to trial for heresy and the astronomer was given the choice to take back what he said or die. Galileo recanted, but the church was powerless to stop the heliocentric model from becoming commonly accepted.

In 1992, the Roman Catholic Church officially agreed with Galileo and Copernicus.

Related Facts

  • Who Discovered that other planets in the Solar System besides Earth have Moons and When?
  • Who first Discovered that the Sun Is the Center of the Solar System and the earth rotates around it and When?
  • Who Was Nicolaus Copernicus and What Was Copernicus’ Most Influential Contribution To Astronomy?
  • Who Was Galileo Galilei and Why Is the Italian Astronomer the Father of Modern Observational Astronomy?
  • What Astronomical Discoveries By Galileo Galilei Almost Got Him Burned At the Stake In 1633?
  • What Did Nicolaus Copernicus Do With His Findings and Why Was Copernicus Reluctant To Publish His Book?

Filed Under: Space

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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