this page honors Nicholas Copernicus (1473-1543)
In Chapter 10 of Book I of Revolutions, Copernicus presented a new model of the universe:
"At rest … in the middle of everything is the sun. For in this most beautiful temple, who would place this lamp in another or better position than that from which it can light up the whole thing at the same time? For, the sun is not inappropriately called by some people the lantern of the universe, its mind by others, and its ruler by still others."
"Thus indeed, as though seated on a royal throne, the sun governs the family of planets revolving around it."
And, by using observations, calculations, and geometric proofs:
"In this arrangement, therefore, we discover a marvelous symmetry of the universe, and an established harmonious linkage between the motion of the spheres [the orbits of the planets] and their size, such as can be found in no other way."