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Tyson Johnson
Astronomy 1040
Who Was Copernicus?
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Astronomy is a huge field of study and there are many great astronomers and

contributors to the science. People have been gazing at the sky for centuries and many of our

modern concepts and thinking about space comes from these ancient observations. Though

there have been many great discoveries and contributions to the study of astronomy there are

few as well recognized as Nicolaus Copernicus. Copernicus is often considered the father of

modern astronomy (Nasa.gov) and has shaped the way we think about our known universe

even today. Without Copernicus’ discoveries our understanding of space would be wholly

different than what we know today. Copernicus’ work in astronomy created the foundation for

how we perceive the universe and continues to shape and influence many of today’s

astronomers.

Copernicus’ was born in Thorn, Poland on February 19, 1473 to wealthy, well to do

parents (Nasa.gov). After the death of his father he was raised primarily by his uncle, a bishop

for the local Catholic church (Nasa.gov). As a growing youth he worked within the church

system in order to continue funding for his studies at various universities, as well as personally.

While he was at the University of Bologna, where he lived with astronomy professor Domenico

Maria de Novara, he began some of his first observations of the night sky (Redd 2018). This

time spent with the early astronomers seemed to have peaked Copernicus’ interest in the field,

for when he returned to Poland he created his own makeshift observatory to study the stars in

his spare time (Redd 2018).

Though Copernicus’ main study at the university was to be law, more and more of his

time was drawn towards astronomy and mathematics (Famousscientist.org). This would not

have been the most pleasing for his strong Catholic background as often times the sciences
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come into direct conflict with religious studies. Copernicus spent many years at universities but

never ended up completing a degree of study (Famousscientists.org). It seems that his mind

was too engaged in other topics to focus on his expected law degree. During this time of study,

he focused much of his time reading the works of previous astronomers such as Ptolemy,

Regiomontanus, and Aratis of Soli (Famousscientists.org) whose influence would eventually

lead Copernicus to his concept of the heliocentric solar system.

Greek star gazers were some of the first to study the stars and the universe around us.

They, like most individuals during the time of Copernicus, believed that the Earth was at the

center of the universe and that all celestial bodies revolved around it (Redd 2018). Though the

famous Greek astronomer Ptolemy proposed that the sun was at the center rather than the

Earth, it wasn’t until Copernicus’ model that this concept began to be more widely accepted.

The main issue with the Ptolemy model was the occasional observations that the planets would

move backwards during their orbit. Ptolemy had created a complex method containing

epicycles to explain why this may occur. Though the complex method seemed to answer the

question as to the planet’s motion, it was Copernicus who studied this model and proposed a

refined version that we still use today.

Copernicus proposed that rather than making several loops across the sky the planets

motion was being observed in what we now call retrograde motion. This concept proposes that

based on the motion of the Earth through space this creates the illusion that planets are

moving backwards when in fact the motion of Earth relative to the planet creates the unique

movement we observe across the sky (Redd 2018). Though Ptolemy’s method had been used

for over 1300 years, this new, simpler idea of planetary motion was groundbreaking in shaping
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modern astronomical studies and paving the way for future astronomers like Tycho Brahe,

Galileo, Johaness Kepler, and even Isaac Newton. Though the heliocentric model is one of his

greatest and well-renowned accomplishments, Copernicus provided many more theories of

astronomical study that are the foundation of what we use today in our study of the universe.

Apart from the heliocentric model of our solar system, Copernicus also dictates that the

Earth, contrary to popular belief at the time, is not a stationary object but rather orbits around

the sun. This concept is extremely important to keep in mind as it illustrates many key concepts

of modern astronomy. Copernicus’ findings not only explain retrograde motion of the planets,

but it also demonstrates the reason we see the sun and stars in different locations throughout

Earth’s rotation (Famousscientist.org). Copernicus also made many smaller observations

throughout his lifetime that have helped to answer many questions about the night sky. The

difficulty with these observations was that they all had to be done with the naked eye as the

telescope had not yet been invented. Due to this lack of technology it would take Copernicus a

very long time before he was ever able to confirm a theory or new concept about our universe

(Gassendi 2002 pg 132). In fact, much of Copernicus’ research would not be wholly confirmed

until many centuries later with Galileo’s telescope and his observations of the different phases

of Venus.

Though Copernicus’ findings were true, they were quite controversial at the time as

they went directly against a concept that had been around for centuries and because it

deprived human beings of being the center of the universe. This especially rattled the people

since it went directly against the Catholic church, who was a major political power at the time.

The Bible was considered the undisputable truth, and nothing could go against its teachings
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(Space.com). Along with strong resistance from close friends and his own doubts about the

people’s understanding of his these, Copernicus decidedly chose not to publish his works right

away as he was worried about the upset it would cause with his own history with the church.

He finished his work titled “De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium”, or “On the Revolutions of

the Heavenly Spheres,” in 1532 which was not published until two months before his passing in

1543 (Space.com). Though the book was not initially banned by the church due to its complex

nature and useful astronomical calculations, the work was eventually marked as heretical and

banned in 1616 (Space.com).

Copernicus never really saw his life’s work come to fruition as he passed shortly after its

publication on May 24, 1543 (Wikipedia.com). He was buried in the Frombork Cathedral where

his remains are believed to reside to this day. Though he never received great praise during his

lifetime, Copernicus is renowned as one of the greatest astronomers in human history and

continues to influence many scientists and astronomers in the modern era.

The reason I chose to write about Copernicus is because he is “the founder of modern

astronomy.” He began his career with little more than a curiosity which flourished into a well-

recognized model for how our solar system and much of the rest of the universe functions. His

works can be greatly appreciated as he did all his work without modern day instruments or the

support of those around him. Even though it may have been challenging to oppose the

common belief system, he was so devoted to his study that he could not help but share his

knowledge with those around him. His works are the foundation of all basic astronomy and

without them many of the later astronomers may not even be recognizable names today

without Copernicus setting the stage for such discoveries to take place. Names like Tycho Brahe
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and Johannes Kepler would have had very little to work with without Copernicus’ teachings to

expand upon and Galileo’s telescope observations would not be as impactful without

Copernicus laying out the groundwork for these respected scientists.

Copernicus truly was a genius. With the minimal technology available and only

mathematics and simple observations he was able to define our universe as it stands today.

Who knows, without Copernicus Earth may have remained at the center of the solar system for

many more decades or possibly even today for that matter. Though originally a mere curiosity,

his models went on to define his life’s work and shape the destiny of humanity’s fundamental

concept of astronomical study. Nonetheless, Copernicus is without a doubt one of the greatest

astronomical minds to ever set foot upon our little place in the universe, even if its not at the

center.
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Works Cited
“Nicolaus Copernicus.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Oct. 2019,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Copernicus.

“Nicolaus Copernicus.” NASA, NASA,

https://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2/copernicus.html.

Redd, Nola Taylor. “Nicolaus Copernicus Biography: Facts & Discoveries.” Space.com, Space, 20 Mar.
2018, https://www.space.com/15684-nicolaus-copernicus.html.

“Home.” Famous Scientists, https://www.famousscientists.org/nicolaus-copernicus/.

Gassendi, Pierre. The Life of Copernicus. Xulon Press, 2002.