
“To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.”
Born on 19 February, 1473 in the city of Thorn in the province of royal Prussia- the kingdom of Poland. Despite being from a wealthy merchant’s family with a politically active father (Nicolaus Copernicus sr.) who was active in supporting Poland against the Teutonic order. After the death of his father, Copernicus’ studies were looked after. By his maternal uncle. He became very prolific in some languages for example spoken Latin, German, etc.
In 1496, Copernicus left to the University of Bologne Italy, where he studied Canon Law with a view to a career in the church. After completing his studies, he temporarily succeeded to the Warmia Canonry. However, he was never fully ordained as a priest and turned away from Canon law – preferring the humanities which were of greater interest to him.
Copernicus created a model of the universe which placed the sun at the centre of the universe (heliocentrism) – challenging the prevailing orthodoxy of the time – which believed the earth at the centre of the universe.
His major work De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (1543) (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres) was published just before his death and marked an important scientific landmark – it was a key moment in the scientific
Copernicus created a model of the universe which placed the sun at the centre of the universe (heliocentrism) – challenging the prevailing orthodoxy of the time – which believed the earth at the centre of the universe.
His major work De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (1543) (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres) was published just before his death and marked an important scientific landmark – it was a key moment in the scientific revolution of the Renaissance period.
With being a pioneer astronomer, Nicolaus was an expert in many aspects as he was practising physician, economist, diplomat, scholar and gained an awful lot of doctorate in canon law