Nicolaus Copernicus | Biography

Nicolaus Copernicus, also known as Mikolaj Kopernik, was a groundbreaking astronomer who was the first to propose that the planets revolve around the Sun, not around Earth as was generally accepted by astronomers at the time. He published his findings in his seminal work, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium

Born in Torun, Poland, to a wealthy merchant family, Copernicus received the majority of his early education from his uncle, Lucas Watzenrode (1447-1512), the future Bishop of Olsztyn, who wished his nephew to become a church canon. From 1491-94, Copernicus studied astronomy and astrology at the University of Krakow then continued his studies for an additional four years at the University of Bologna. This Italian tenure was very important because he shared a house with the leading astronomer and astrologer of the city, Domenico Maria de Novara (1454-1504). Copernicus was introduced by de Novara to not only his methods of celestial observation, but also to the works of Ptolemy and Regiomontanus. Ptolemy provided Copernicus with an understanding of the prevailing geocentric view of the universe. Regiomontanus, however, provided unique planetary representations which may have provided a foundation for Copernicus' heliocentric theory.

Upon completion of his studies at Bologna, Copernicus went to the University of Padua to receive a degree in medicine. This may seem to be quite a dramatic shift from the study of the heavens, but for the Europeans of his time, the study of astronomy, astrology, mathematics, and medicine were all closely related. In order to determine what was ailing an individual, medical doctor would observe, through mathematical techniques, which celestial bodies were adversely affecting his patient. Through this medicinal astrology, a remedy would be suggested. With this in mind, Copernicus' foray into medicine can be understood. However, in 1503, he did not receive a doctorate in medicine, but in canon law and subsequently returned to Poland where his uncle arranged a sinecure for him. Although the term sinecure suggests that Copernicus held a position of leisure, this was not the case. It was Copernicus' duty not only to offer medical care and advice to his uncle, but to also handle the administrative responsibilities of the church. This included a wide array of tasks such as collecting rent, organizing defenses, and managing food production. Considering that at this time the entire countryside was facing constant threats from the Teutonic knights, it is truly remarkable that Copernicus had the time to study the sciences.

Indeed, it was in Copernicus' spare time that he composed his important treatise De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the revolutions of the heavenly spheres ). Here, Copernicus described his view of a heliostatic system of the planets which placed the sun, not the earth, at the center of the solar system. He retained the old Ptolemaic concept of orbits, but used a series of detailed mathematical techniques to alter the order of the planets. These techniques yielded the distances and orbital periods of the planets. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium was publishd in 1543 at the urging of Copernicus' friend and former student, where Georg Rheticus.

Orbits, also known as the sidereal periods, were easily calculated by observing the orbit relative to a fixed star. However, Copernicus realized that because the earth was in orbit around the sun and not the center of the planetary system, the old method of calculating orbits would be flawed. In order to compensate for this, he determined the orbits of the planets through a process called synodic periods. A synodic period was the length of time between the alignments of the Earth, Sun, and the planet under observation. Once the duration of the planetary orbit was calculated, Copernicus was able to determine the relative distances of the planets based upon astronomical units (AU). He had to develop the concept of the astronomical units (AU), where one AU was the distance from the earth to the Sun, because he did not know the true distance in miles or any other form of measurement.

Although the Copernican system was generally accepted when it was introduced to the academic community, it was gradually considered implausible and heretical within ecclesiastical circles. However, through the commitment of astronomers such as Johannes Kepler (1571 -1630) and Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642), the Copernican system eventually became the foundation by which all complex astronomical calculations and observations were made.

Copernicus would not live to see the repercussions of De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. He died in 1543 of a brain hemmorhage, shortly after the work was published.