Theory · proposed 1543 CE
The Heliocentric Model
History of Astronomy
The theory
The model placing the Sun at the centre of the planetary system, with the Earth a planet that both spins on its axis and orbits the Sun. Proposed in antiquity by Aristarchus and revived by Copernicus in 1543, it was supported by Galileo's and Kepler's work and is the foundation of our modern understanding of the Solar System.
Developed by
Confirmed by
Presented in
Knowledge connections
- Confirmed byThe Phases of Venus
- Introduced byDe revolutionibus orbium coelestium
- Developed byNicolaus Copernicus
- Part ofRenaissance Astronomy
Sources & references
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica
General reference for the history of astronomy, biographies, and cultural context.
- IAUInternational Astronomical Union
Official naming, definitions, constellation boundaries, and astronomical nomenclature.