Nicolaus Copernicus

By: Luke and Shaun

Little Nicky

• Born on Feburary 19, 1473• Died on May 24, 1543 at the age of 70• He was a mathematician and an astronomer• And he also studied economics and medicine

Little Nicky

• His father was a merchant from Karkow and his mother was the daughter of a wealthy merchant.

• Nicolaus was the youngest of four children• He was the only one out of the sibilings not to

get married or have children.

Little Nicky

• Copernicus studies gave him a thorough grounding in the mathematical-astronomical knowledge.

• He studied philosophical and natural-science writings of Aristotle and Averroes.

• Over the years Copernicus became more interested in Astronomy.

Little Nicky

• He could speak Latin, Polish, German, Greek, and Italian

• 1514, Copernicus wrote an initial outline of his heliocentric theory.

• This outline that he wrote was called Commentariolus. No copies were made but the outline was studied by several different astronomers.

Little Nicky

• Heliocentrism- is the astronomical model in which the Earth and planets revolve around a stationary Sun at the center of the solar system.

» Heliocentric Geocentric

Little Nicky

• He received some discouragement because the heliocentric system seemed to disagree with the Bible.

• Copernicus wrote five other books along with Commentariolus.

• Future astronomers like Galileo, Kepler, and Tyco Brahe, supported and studied Copernicus’ Heliocentric model.

Little Nicky

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BeEr3eYwVo

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGtriSso6r0&feature=related