Syed Amiruzzaman
"To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do, that is true knowledge."
–Nicolaus Copernicus.
“The Earth revolves around the Sun.” – The 553rd birth anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus, the proponent of this revolutionary doctrine, one of the 16th-century mathematicians, physicists, modern scholars, translators, governors, diplomats, economists, and legendary astronomers, is February 19.
Nicolaus Copernicus was a great scientist who was born as a light in the era of darkness and ignorance. He observed the movement of planets and stars in the sky. He wrote against the misconceptions prevalent at that time. But it was not easy to say something that went against the so-called wise men of that time. At that time, the concept of the Earth and the Sun was not like it is today. Everyone thought that the Sun and other planetary satellites revolved around the Earth. But Copernicus said from his observations that the Earth and other planetary satellites revolve around the Sun. He was the first to say, “The Sun, not the Earth, is the center of the solar system. The Sun illuminates the entire solar system.”
Birth
He is called the father of modern astronomy. He was born on February 19, 1472 in Torun, Poland. He was the son of a wealthy family of German origin. His father, Nicolaus Copernicus, was an influential merchant. Copernicus was the youngest of four siblings. He lost his father at the age of ten. After his father's death, he studied at his uncle's house.
Education
In 1491, he went to study at the University of Krakow. There, he became interested in studying astronomy. Mathematics and optics were also his subjects of study. But his uncle wanted his nephew to accept the post of priest in the church of Frauenberg for lifelong financial security. In order to gain knowledge about it during the period until the post of priest became vacant, he sent him to the University of Bologna in Italy. When he went there to study medicine, law and theology, he met the famous philosopher Plato and the famous astronomer Domenico of the time. The proximity of the talented person inspired him to astronomy. For three and a half years, he studied the Greek language, mathematics and the works of Plato. He also became familiar with the thinking of the time regarding astronomy. While studying at the University of Bologna, he was involved in astronomical research and observations with Professor Domenico. It was while he was there that his first recorded astronomical observation was made in 1497.
Action
After completing his studies, Copernicus moved permanently to his homeland. He was 30 years old at the time. He spent the remaining 40 years of his life in Warmia. He then served as his uncle's advisor until his death in 1512. He then became a devoted pastor of the church in Freiburg.
After completing his higher education, he was appointed as a professor of astronomy at the University of Rome. At that time, he had doubts about Ptolemy's conclusions about the universe. He found some flaws in this theory that the Earth is at the center of the universe, and that the Sun, stars, and moon revolve around the Earth. When he taught Ptolemy's conclusions to students in class, he often felt that he was teaching wrongly.
He began to study the subject more deeply to know the real truth. Faced with these contradictory opinions, he felt that he had to uncover the real truth. How could he teach his students something he himself was skeptical about? In the meantime, a student asked him, "Sir, do you believe what you are saying?" Copernicus became hesitant. He quit his teaching job due to mental anguish. From here, he began to search for answers to the questions that had arisen in his mind.
Research
There were no telescopes at that time, so there was no choice but to rely on simple observations and mathematical methods. While staying at the Freiburg church, he continued his research and investigation work alone. He did not receive cooperation or advice from anyone in this regard. The church was on a hill. Nicholas conducted his observations from a nearby dome. Standing on a high point on the church wall, he observed the movements of the moon, sun and planets. He recorded the results of his observations with the naked eye and published them from time to time. Some such comments have also been found recorded on the pages of books in his personal library.
Innovation
At that time, the Ptolemy method was prevalent. From careful observation, he could realize that there was a flaw in Ptolemy's explanation. Several questions could not be answered by Ptolemy's model. By discarding Ptolemy's concept, he calculated that if he placed the sun at the center, everything would fit. If he forced the earth to be at the center, unnecessary complications would arise.
Later, Tycho Brahe, Kepler, Bruno and Galileo Galilei gradually illuminated his path. They corrected the mistakes and established the concept of a heliocentric solar system as true. Copernicus said, “The seasons change because the earth revolves around the sun. And the earth rotates on its axis, which causes day and night.” He was the first to say that the sun illuminates the entire solar system.
Copernicus in anger
He did not dare to express his researched theories spontaneously. Because he was a church priest. His theories were completely opposed to the prevailing religious beliefs. Even after his revolutionary theories were written down, they had to be kept unpublished for thirteen long years. From 1510 to 1514, Copernicus prepared a manuscript as a summary of his new theories. In 1514, he preached them privately among his friends.
As the years passed, he developed his theory through design and mathematical calculations. In 1533, he even lectured on it before Pope Clement VII of Rome and received his support.
In 1536, Copernicus received a formal request to publish his theory. With the efforts of his disciple Rheticus, he decided to publish the work. Rheticus was allowed to take the manuscript to Nuremberg, Germany, for printing. Due to the opposition of Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon, and other reformers, Rheticus left Nuremberg for Leipzig and handed over the responsibility of publishing to Andreas Osiander. Fearing criticism, Osiander added a preface to the book on his own responsibility. He thought that if the book was published, he would be in danger along with Copernicus. So he wrote at the beginning of the book - the contents of this book are not entirely true. It is written based on assumptions.
Through these words, he created a dubious concept of truth and falsehood so that the information presented in the book could be false if necessary. Not only that, he lifted various names from the book at will. The most notable of them was the name of Aristarchus, who was the first to say with deep conviction that the sun was stationary and the earth was moving.
Revolution
In the context of Western thought and to place modern astronomy on a scientific basis, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres) was published on May 24, 1543. The six-volume work was dedicated to the third pope, who said, "Let no one criticize the work unless he has sufficient knowledge of mathematics."
The doctrine of the dethronement of the Earth from its central position in the universe dealt a severe blow. The Earth could no longer be considered the origin of creation. The Earth could no longer be considered the center of the universe as the source of all change and destruction. A successful challenge to the entire system of ancient authority required a change in man's philosophical conception of the universe. The theory of Copernicus brought about that change. It can rightly be called the 'Copernican Revolution'. In the words of the great German poet Goethe - of all discoveries and opinions, none has had so much influence on the human mind as the theory of Copernicus.
When his book was published towards the end of his life, he was paralyzed and suffering from mental illness. When the book reached him in print, he was in no condition to read it. He only moved the book with both hands for a moment. He died a few hours later.
Based on the truth he established through his book, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Einstein opened up new horizons in astronomy. Through this book, the geocentric theory of Ptolemy, which had been around for 1500 years, was proven wrong. Copernicus said in his book, “The reason why the paths of planets and stars from the Earth are much more complicated is because of the Earth’s own rotation. Therefore, when viewed from the Sun, the Earth will appear to be a relatively simple and ordinary planet.” He also said, “The change of seasons occurs due to the Earth’s rotation around the Sun.” Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake for promoting this theory.
Death
He died on May 24, 1543, at the age of 70. He was buried under the floor of Frombruck Cathedral on the Baltic coast of Poland. He was buried anonymously and carelessly. Although the clergy of the time did not accept Copernicus' new theory, scientists later proved his research to be correct.
Copernicus reburied as a hero 467 years after his death
He was reburied as a hero 467 years after his death. This is how people who have created revolutions throughout the ages receive recognition. That recognition may be immediate or somewhat delayed.
# Syed Amiruzzaman is a researcher, journalist and columnist on the Liberation War;
