Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus Fernando Torres W. Stiern Middle School Ms. Marshall 2009-2010 H.S.S. 7.10

Introduction • Copernicus was a Polish astronomer • Lived from 1473 to 1543 • Was a Roman Catholic • Considered as the father of modern astronomy • Discovered that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the universe • Theories opposed church teachings which overthrew the reliance of popular ideas of ancient Greek philosophers • Provided a model for the scientific method

Birth of Copernicus • Born on February 19, 1473 in Thorn, (now Torun) Poland • Parents were Barbara Watzcelrode and Nicolaus Koppernigk • Name in Poland is either Niklas Koppernigk or Mikolaj Kopernik • Belonged to a family of wealthy merchants

Childhood • Had two sisters and a brother: Andreas/ Andrzej, who became an Augustinian canon at Frombork Barbara, who became a Benedictine nun Katharina/ Katarzyna, who married Barthel Gertner, a business man and city councillor • Was the youngest one in the family • At the age of ten, Copernicus went to live with his uncle, who was a prince and a bishop, after his father died

Basic Studies • Entered the University of Cracow in 1491 and studied mathematics and painting • Also studied liberal arts- which included astronomy and astrology • Left before he completed his degree in 1494 • Uncle arranged for Copernicus to serve as a canon( church official) at the cathedral at Frombork • Job provided Copernicus with income for his studies • Studied religious law and medicine at the universities of Bologna and Padua • Gained a doctorate in canon law at the University of Ferrara

Further Studies in Astronomy • In Italy attended the astronomical lectures of Professor Domenico Maria Novara • Copernicus’s earliest observations were in the year 1497 • On March 9, 1497 observed and recorded an eclipse of the star Aldebaran • In the 1500ths, he lectured in Rome about mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and theology • Attended a conference in Rome about the calendar reform where people argued that if the Earth was the center of the sun then why were they getting inaccurate calendars • Witnessed a lunar eclipse on November 6, 1500 • Returned to Poland in either 1505 or 1506 after completing his studies in 1503

Copernicus’s Job as Canon • Returned to Poland in his early 30’s • Served as a canon for 40 years • Assisted the bishop in : governing the diocese( the territorial authority of a bishop), administering church property, and used his medical training on the clergy and the poor

Nightly Watches • Often watched the night sky atop a roofless tower of stone that he built himself • Did not use a telescope in his observations • Made regular observations about the path of the sun, moon, and planets • Tried to calculate the planet’s orbits • With careful observation, he learned much about the universe

Copernicus’s Theories • Early astronomers had suggested a heliocentric universe ( a universe where the sun is the center of the universe) • Immediately religious church leaders rejected these ideas, wanting their view of the universe to be the only one • Copernicus believed that Ptolemy’s theory contained flaws • The idea that stars rotated around the earth and that the sun moved around the earth every night and day was complicated • Copernicus observed that the planets changed in brightness and even moved backwards’ like Mars • Wondered if the earth moved along with the planets- third from the sun, which set Mars back to fourth • This explained Mar’s backward motion • Concluded that all planets orbit the sun • Proposed that the earth revolves yearly around the sun • Theorized that the earth moved on its axis

De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium • This book explained Copernicus’s theories • Called On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres or DeRevolutionibus Orbium Coelestium in Poland • Published in 1543 • Demonstrated how the earth's motion could be used to explain the movements of other universal bodies • Copernicus refused to publish his theories, afraid that he will be exiled • In 1530, allowed scholars to review his work • Georg Rheticus, used Copernicus’s permission to publish his book, but was forced into exile • The job of publishing Copernicus’s book was left to a Lutheran Minister, Abdreas Osiander • Copernicus died before he ever saw his book published • Dedicated to Pope Paul III

Roman Catholic Church’s Action • Banned On the Revolutions of the HeavenlySpheres in 1616 and it remained on a list of forbidden books until the 1800’s • Religious leaders disagreed with Copernicus’s theories because they contradicted their view of the universe • Some scholars understood Copernicus’s theories but they did not openly oppose the church

Death • Scientists and astronomers like Galileo and Johannes Kepler helped prove some of Copernicus’s theories • Copernicus died on May 24, 1543 in Fraunberg • Was unmarried and bared no children

Bibliography • Ellavich C. Marie. Scientist's: theirLives and Works. 1997 • Boltzmann, Cuvier. The Grolier Library of Science Biographies. 1996

Nicolaus Copernicus