Nicolaus Copernicus was born on February 19, 1473, in Toruń, Poland.
He formulated the heliocentric model of the universe, which proposed that the Earth and other planets orbit the Sun.
Copernicus's seminal work, 'De revolutionibus orbium coelestium' ('On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres'), was published in 1543, the year of his death.
He studied at the University of Kraków and later in Italy, where he attended the universities of Bologna, Padua, and Ferrara.
Nicolaus Copernicus was not only an astronomer but also a physician, mathematician, economist, and cleric.
He served as a canon at the Frombork Cathedral, where he conducted much of his astronomical research.
Copernicus's heliocentric theory challenged the long-held geocentric model supported by the Catholic Church and Ptolemaic astronomy.
His work laid the foundation for modern astronomy and influenced later scientists such as Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton.
Copernicus also made contributions to economics, including formulating a theory of money that anticipated the quantity theory of money.
He spoke multiple languages, including Latin, German, Polish, Greek, and Italian.
Nicolaus Copernicus's heliocentric model simplified the explanation of retrograde motion of planets, which was complex under the geocentric model.
His uncle, Lucas Watzenrode, who was the bishop of Warmia, played a significant role in supporting and educating Copernicus.
Copernicus's ideas initially faced resistance but gradually gained acceptance, leading to a major shift in scientific thought known as the Copernican Revolution.
He observed the heavens with the naked eye, as the telescope had not yet been invented.
Nicolaus Copernicus passed away on May 24, 1543, in Frombork, Poland, leaving a legacy that transformed our understanding of the cosmos.
