Nicholas Copernicus
Definition
Nicholas Copernicus was a Polish astronomer in the Renaissance period who proposed the heliocentric theory, which states that the sun is at the center of the solar system and all planets revolve around it.
Analogy
Think of Nicholas Copernicus as a detective in a mystery novel. Everyone else believes they know who did it (in this case, believing Earth is at the center), but Copernicus comes along with new evidence (his astronomical observations) that completely changes our understanding of the story (or, in this case, our understanding of the universe).
Related terms
Renaissance: A period from 14th to 17th century characterized by renewed interest in classical scholarship, exploration and significant developments in art and science.
Astronomy: The scientific study of celestial objects, space and physical universe as a whole.
Scientific Revolution: A historical change in thought & belief that took place during 16th & 17th centuries. It was marked by major changes in how people viewed nature, cosmos and human body; often associated with scientists like Galileo, Kepler and Newton.
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