Why Did Copernicus and Galilei Change Their Views of the Universe?

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Why did Copernicus and Galilei change their views of the universe? Galileo Galilei and Nicolaus Copernicus were influential European scientists in the 15th and 16th centuries. They proved that Ptolemy's theory, The Geocentric Model, the theory that the Earth is stationary and all astronomical mass revolves around it, is incorrect. Copernicus used his logic and evidence to come up with the Heliocentric Model, which is the theory that all astronomical mass, surrounded by motionless stars, revolves around a still sun. Galilei became devoted to this idea, and built a telescope to back Copernicus up on his theory. This discovery has influenced modern astronomy, and created a scientific revolution. Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) was a Polish mathematician and astronomer who created a model which placed the Sun at the centre of the universe, rather than the Earth. This is called the Heliocentric Model. Copernicus went to study at the University of Padua in Italy. While Copernicus was studying in Padua, he began to wonder if what he had been taught was correct. In Krakow, his professors taught him about Aristotle's and Ptolemy's views of the universe. Copernicus' professors were convinced that the Earth was the centre of the universe, but Copernicus had different ideas and started to question what he had been taught. At the age of 30, Copernicus returned to Poland, where he lived in his uncle's castle and continued to study the Solar System. Copernicus took up many duties within the Church, such as mapmaking, tax collecting and managing the money, serving as a secretary and practicing medicine. While fulfilling all of his duties, he still managed to find time for astronomical observations. He carried out these observations using devices that were similar to wooden yardsticks stuck together. These measured the angular altitude of stars and planets. He had a metal

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