The Earth Orbits the Sun

1. The Earth Orbits the Sun Scott Anderson

2. Discovery • Nicolaus Copernicus is the person that is credited with first presenting the idea that the sun, and not the Earth, was the center of the Solar System. Copernicus wrote De revolutionibus, similar to Ptolemy’s writings, Almagest, that suggested the system was geocentric. De revolutionibus was printed in 1543, but Copernicus’ first written ideas came as early as 1514. He wrote that the universe consisted of 8 spheres and that they all rotated around the sun. The appearance of the Sun and stars moving daily, was actually caused by the Earth moving. Copernicus’ book was not popular, but it turned out to be right.

3. Previous Thought • It was believed by most that the Earth was the center of the universe and that everything revolved around it. In Ptolemy’s Almagest, he talks about many different theories that he has. The main issue though, is that the universe is geocentric, or that Earth is the center. This was what was believed by almost everyone at that time period. Copernicus’ thoughts were not accepted by scientists until the 1700’s, so the geocentric universe idea lasted a very long time.

4. Impact • Copernicus’ discovery of the heliocentric solar system paved the way for many more discoveries. The realization that Earth was in fact revolving around the sun led to many more discoveries. Earth’s rotation, Earth’s orbit, the other planet’s orbits. Also this led to Kepler’s law’s and many other crucial discoveries. The discovery of a heliocentric solar system enabled us to learn so much more about the planet we live in and the universe that it is in. Without Copernicus, space travel and space technology could have turned out completely different. The hubble telescope and other important satellites may have never been possible. So, even though Copernicus got some ideas wrong, his main idea of heliocentrism is one of the greatest in physics history.