Tech Directions - March 2009 - (Page 12) technology’s past Dennis Karwatka d.karwat@morehead-st.edu Nicholas Copernicus and the Sun-Centered Solar System scholars at that time, who came to The sun rises in the east and sets be known as Renaissance Men (or in the west. To most people in the Women). Italy was an advanced Eu16th century, that meant the sun ropean country, and Copernicus had revolved around the earth. Nicholas access to the most Copernicus did current informanot agree. In tion. He remained about 1512, he there for about 10 was among the years. He compiled first scientists some astronomito write that the cal tables in his earth rotated spare time but around the sun. had no particular Copernicus aspirations to be was born in an astronomer. He 1473 in Torun, earned a doctoral Poland, about degree in church 110 miles south law. of Gdansk. He Copernicus had a younger moved to his brother and two uncle’s home in sisters. After his Ermland, Poland, father, a finanNicholas Copernicus in 1506 and served cially comfortas his secretary and personal physiable copper merchant and banker, cian. He also practiced medicine in died early, Copernicus was raised by the community and worked for the his uncle. The uncle had social status church’s regional office. He spoke or and enough wealth to provide the read several languages. young man with a quality education. Copernicus earned degrees in mathTo accommodate his growing ematics and art at the University of astronomical interest, he had a roofCracow. During his student years, he less tower built so he could make developed an interest in astronomy. observations. He used three measurTelescopes had not been invented ing devices to determine planetary and astronomers observed the sky positions. Copernicus became so conwith unaided eyes. They generated vinced that the sun was at the center complicated tables and drawings in of the solar system that he wrote a an attempt to prove that the earth book on the subject. He was a mathwas the center of the universe. ematician and could work out the full Copernicus’s fascination with asdetails of planetary motion. All scientronomy was mostly a hobby, and he tific books at the time were written began thinking about options to the in Latin and he titled his Commentaricurrent wisdom. He thought that an olus, which meant “small commenearth-centered system required untary.” In the short 1512 manuscript, reasonable motions by the six visible he wrote, “All the spheres revolve planets. about the sun as the midpoint, and At his uncle’s suggestion, Copertherefore the sun is at the center of nicus went to Italy to study medicine the universe.” The bulk of the publiand church law. His journey included cation discussed planetary motion. walking over the Alps, a pattern of His ideas were in conflict with travel and diverse study typical of church law. But Copernicus expeLibrary of Congress rienced little of the backlash that would later affect Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) when he made similar comments based on telescopic observations. That may have happened because Copernicus was an important church official. Also, his book was not widely distributed and information did not travel quickly. His short manuscript became the basis for a more complete book that was published the year he died. Little is known of Copernicus’s personal life. He probably never married and his writings suggest he had a serious nature. He was an excellent physician and practiced medicine all his life. He died in 1543 of a stroke. Author Isaac Asimov gave Copernicus great praise when he wrote, “With Copernicus began the Scientific Revolution.” That revolution went on to include contributions from Galileo and Isaac Newton (1642-1727). Their combined work established the technical rationale that sent Americans to the moon in the 1970s and space shuttles into earth orbit. Copernicus’s drawing of the sun-centered solar system References Asimov, Isaac. (1964). Asimov’s biographical encyclopedia of science and technology. Doubleday & Co. Publishers. Bolton, Sarah K. (1941). Famous men of science. Thomas Y. Crowell Publishers. Hoyle, Fred. (1973). Nicholas Copernicus. Harper & Row Publishers. Dennis Karwatka is professor emeritus, Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology, Morehead (KY) State University. 12 techdirections ◆ MARCH 2009
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