Did you know that Nicolaus Copernicus never earned his bachelor's degree, but still became one of the greatest astronomers in history? Nicolaus Copernicus made an excellent discovery about our solar system and was an amazing astronomer. Nicolaus Copernicus made an excellent discovery about our solar system and was an amazing astronomer. Throughout this piece I will be informing you about Copernicus’ life, career, contributions, and what life would be like without his discoveries. Firstly, Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland on February 19, 1473. He was the the fourth and youngest child born to Nicolaus Copernicus Sr. and Barbara Watzenrode. When he was born, Torun had ceded to Poland, making him a citizen under the Polish crown. …show more content…
Around 1514, Copernicus completed Commentariolus, a forty page manuscript which summarized his heliocentric planetary system and included mathematical formulas to serve as proof. In this manuscript, he went on to describe the heliocentric planetary system. There were seven parts to this which included his thoughts. Commentariolus also went on to describe his assertion that a mere thirty-four circles could illustrate planetary motion. Copernicus’ manuscript created a buzz around his unconventional theories. Copernicus raised controversy between his manuscript Commentariolus and De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium. They said that he lacked an explanation as to why the Earth orbits the Sun. Copernicus' theories also incensed the Roman Catholic Church and was considered heretical. In 1543, De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium was published, religious leader Martin Luther voiced his opinion on the heliocentric solar system model. Lutheran minister Andreas Osiander, quickly followed saying of Copernicus, “This fool wants to turn the whole art of astronomy upside down.” Osiander even wrote a disclaimer stating that the heliocentric system was an abstract hypothesis that needed to not be seen as truth. Believe it or not, Copernicus dedicated De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium to Pope Paul III. If his tribute to the Catholic religious leader was an attempt to make peace