Copernicus (1473-1543) was a Polish astronomer and mathematician who was a proponent of the view of an Earth in daily motion about its axis and in yearly motion around a stationary sun. This theory profoundly altered later workers’ view of the universe, but was rejected by the Catholic church.

Finally we shall place the Sun himself at the center of the Universe. All this is suggested by the systematic procession of events and the harmony of the whole Universe, if only we face the facts, as they say, ‘with both eyes open’.

To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.

N. Copernicus