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Nicolaus Copernicus Biography

Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus (/koʊˈpɜːrnɪkəs, kə-/; Polish: Mikołaj Kopernik; German: Nikolaus Kopernikus; Niklas Koppernigk; 19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) was a Renaissance-era mathematician and astronomer who formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at the center of the universe, likely independently of Aristarchus of Samos, who had formulated such a model some eighteen centuries earlier.[a]

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Nicolaus Copernicus Quotes

There may be babblers, wholly ignorant of mathematics, who dare to condemn my hypothesis, upon the authority of some part of the Bible twisted to suit their purpose. I value them not, and scorn their unfounded judgment.

Bible, Ignorant, May, Purpose, Scorn, Value

For what could be more beautiful than the heavens which contain all beautiful things.

Beautiful, Beautiful Things, Heaven, Heavens, Things

Not only the phenomena of the others followed from this, but also it so bound together both the order and magnitude of all the planets and the spheres and the heaven itself, that in no single part could one thing be altered without confusion among the other parts and in all the universe.

Confusion, Heaven, Magnitude, Order, Single, Spheres

Among the authorities it is generally agreed that the Earth is at rest in the middle of the universe, and they regard it as inconceivable and even ridiculous to hold the opposite opinion. However, if we consider it more closely the question will be seen to be still unsettled, and so decidedly not to be despised. For every apparent change in respect of position is due to motion of the object observed, or of the observer, or indeed to an unequal change of both.

Agreed, Due, Earth, Inconceivable, Opposites, Science

Astronomy is written for astronomers

Astronomers, Astronomy, Written

Moreover, since the sun remains stationary, whatever appears as a motion of the sun is really due rather to the motion of the earth.

Appears, Earth, Motion, Remains, Sun

At rest, however, in the middle of everything is the sun.

Everything, Middle, Rest, Sun

Of all things visible, the highest is the heaven of the fixed stars.

Aquarius, Heaven, Highest, Stars, Visible

Hence I feel no shame in asserting that this whole region engirdled by the moon, and the center of the earth, traverse this grand circle amid the rest of the planets in an annual revolution around the sun. Near the sun is the center of the universe. Moreover, since the sun remains stationary, whatever appears as a motion of the sun is really due rather to the motion of the earth.

Annual, Circles, Engirdled, Moon, Revolution

Perhaps there will be prattlers who, although completely ignorant of mathematics, nevertheless take it upon themselves to pass judgment on mathematical questions, and on account of some passage in Scripture, badly distorted to their purpose, will dare to censure and assail what I have presented here.

Badly, Completely, Faith, God, Hope, Take

Pouring forth its seas everywhere, then, the ocean envelops the earth and fills its deeper chasms.

Deeper, Everywhere, Fills, Ocean, Pouring, Sea

First of all, we must note that the universe is spherical.

Firsts, Note, Notes, Spherical, Universe

Mathemata mathematicis scribuntur Mathematics is written for mathematicians De Revolutionibus

Mathemata, Mathematical, Mathematician, Mathematics, Written

Every light has its shadow, and every shadow hath a succeeding morning.

Light, Morning, Shadow, Succeeding

In the midst of all dwells the sun.

Dwells, Midst, Sun

I can easily conceive, most Holy Father, that as soon as some people learn that in this book which I have written concerning the revolutions of the heavenly bodies, I ascribe certain motions to the Earth, they will cry out at once that I and my theory should be rejected.

Ascribe, Book, Father, Learn, People, Revolutions

In first place we must observe that the universe is spherical. This is either because that figure is the most perfect, as not being articulated, but whole and complete in itself; or because it is the most capacious and therefore best suited for that which is to contain and preserve all things.

Astronomy, Capacious, Firsts, Perfect, Things

I therefore took this opportunity and also began to consider the possibility that the Earth moved. Although it seemed an absurd opinion, nevertheless, because I knew that others before me had been granted the liberty of imagining whatever circles they wished to represent the phenomena of the stars, I thought that I likewise would readily be allowed to test whether, by assuming some motion of the Earth's, more dependable representations than theirs could be found for the revolutions of the heavenly spheres.

Allowed, Circles, Opportunity, Science, Stars, Took

Finally we shall place the Sun himself at the center of the Universe.

Center, Center Of The Universe, Sun, Universe

Therefore I would not have it unknown to Your Holiness, the the only thing which induced me to look for another way of reckoning the movements of the heavenly bodies was that I knew that mathematicians by no means agree in their investigation thereof.

Body, Induced, Look, Mean, Movement, Way

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