Nicolaus Copernicus

1473-1543

Nicolaus Copernicus Polish: Mikołaj Kopernik help infoGerman: Nikolaus Kopernikus; 19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543was a Renaissance mathematician and astronomer who formulated a heliocentric model of the universe which placed the Sun, rather than the Earth, at the center.

The publication of Copernicus' book, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres, just before his death in 1543, is considered a major event in the history of science. It began the Copernican Revolution and contributed importantly to the scientific revolution.