Copernicus centered on Sun. Scientists now center on his grave.

William Atkins
Sunday, 23 November 2008 21:17

Science - Biology

The ideas of Copernicus, especially that the Earth was not the center of the solar system (what was considered the “universe” back in the 16th century), but instead the Sun, ran counter to religious teachings.

It was also not in line with 16th century scientific thought, whose scientists believed in the Ptolemaic theory (or the geocentric theory, with the Earth in the center of the solar system, and the Sun and planets revolving around us).

Copernicus claimed that the Earth rotated once-a-day upon its axis and also orbited around the Sun once-a-year, what is considered today the heliocentric theory.

These conclusions were claimed in his monumental work “De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium” (or, “On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres”), which was published just before his death.

The Catholic Church, specifically Pope Paul V, condemned these findings of Copernicus in 1616.

However, the claims of Copernicus were later verified by scientists, which changed the way we see ourselves in the Universe and how scientists still view our tiny Earth within the much, much larger Universe.

The Catholic Church was forced to reverse its condemnation of Copernicus and accept that the Earth was not the physical center of its religious world.

Today, the Bishop of Frombork, Jacek Jezierski, stated, "Now we will be able to pay homage to Copernicus with a tomb worthy of this illustrious historic personality.” [AFP: “Two-century hunt for tomb of astrologer Copernicus is over”]

For additional information on the remains of Copernicus, please read the article “In Search for the Grave of Nicolaus Copernicus” by Jerzy Gąssowski and Beata Jurkiewicz [Archaeology and Anthropology Institute]