The heliocentric model is most often attributed to Nicolaus Copernicus in his book "De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium" (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) published in 1543. While earlier Greek philosophers like Aristarchus of Samos had proposed the idea of a heliocentric model, Copernicus's work provided a more detailed and mathematically sound model that challenged the prevailing geocentric view.

It's important to note that Copernicus's model wasn't immediately accepted and was met with resistance from the Church and some astronomers. However, it laid the foundation for later astronomers like Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler to refine and expand upon it, ultimately leading to the modern understanding of the solar system.