This date in science: Happy birthday, Nicolaus Copernicus

[Panich52]

This date in science:  Happy birthday, Nicolaus Copernicus

Copernicus broke open the medieval idea of an enclosed, Earth-centered universe. He set the stage for all of modern astronomy.

More
http://earthsky.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e56e7a92b1c5790f7343ef95a&id=60979ea126&e=dc13e7b006

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[Man from Pickens]

1. That's not quite the whole story

Copernicus only published his heliocentric model when he knew his death was close, so he didn't have to face the consequences of his heresy and didn't have to defend his work.

Moreover, the heliocentric model is not original to him. The person who really deserves the credit is a man named Aristarchus of Samos, who came up with the same idea 1700 years earlier. Copernicus knew his own work was derivative of Aristarchus', but for some reason myth has attributed the idea to Copernicus.

If you're into astronomy check out Aristarchus' work. Some of the things he figured out - for example, the size of and distance to the moon - are absolutely mind-blowing when you consider he did it with almost no instruments, using pure reason and rudimentary mathematical tools.

(This is not to diminish the importance of the re-introduction of heliocentrism, only to give credit where it is truly due.)

[Panich52]

2. Wasn't Aristarchus also the one who proved Earth was round - used shadows

in wide spread areas (Greece & Egypt, I think). Or do I have him confused w/ another ancient who doesn't get due credit?

(off to google if I have time )

[MisterP]

3. and he led men into battle. twice. and won. twice.

(and it's too bad people don't try and break the 19th-century idea of an enclosed, Earth-centered Middle Ages!)