For thousands of years, the general consensus among learned people was that Earth was the center of the universe. This belief system remained unchallenged until a quiet, unassuming man wondered if his predecessors had gotten it wrong. The father of modern astronomy, Nicolaus Copernicus was a doctor, church canon, and protector of lands. In his free time, he studied the night sky, spending over thirty years observing and recording the heavens. In this historical biography, readers explore the philosophical and religious aspects of scientific discovery during the Renaissance. Sidebars offer additional information, while a timeline helps readers trace the events of Copernicus’s life.

For thousands of years, the general consensus among learned people was that Earth was the center of the universe. This belief system remained unchallenged until a quiet, unassuming man wondered if his predecessors had gotten it wrong. The father of modern astronomy, Nicolaus Copernicus was a doctor, church canon, and protector of lands. In his free time, he studied the night sky, spending over thirty years observing and recording the heavens. In this historical biography, readers explore the philosophical and religious aspects of scientific discovery during the Renaissance. Sidebars offer additional information, while a timeline helps readers trace the events of Copernicus’s life.