Copernicus was a mathematician and astronomer who was a native of modern day Poland. He developed a heliocentric model of the universe. His model, which placed the sun rather than the earth at the centre of the solar system caused controversy when it was first published around 1514.

Nicolaus Copernicus was born in the city of Torun in northern Poland in 1473. He was educated at Krakow Academy and later at the University of Bologna in Italy. In 1514 he was asked by Pope Leo X to help improve the calendar. His major work, ‘On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres’ was published shortly before his death at the age of 70 on May 24^th 1543.

Copernicus was born in the year 1473 On This Day.

Photo by ocherdraco

Mathematician and Astronomer Copernicus developed a heliocentric model of the Universe (sun at the centre) born Torun Poland 1473 On This day