The idea that the Earth orbits the Sun was first proposed by Aristarchus of Samos in the 3rd century BC. However, his theory was largely ignored at the time, and it was not until Nicolaus Copernicus revived it in the 16th century that it gained widespread acceptance.

Here's a breakdown:

* Aristarchus of Samos (c. 310-230 BC): He was a Greek astronomer who first proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system, with the Sun at the center and the Earth orbiting it. However, his theory was not widely accepted at the time, as it challenged the prevailing geocentric view of the universe (with the Earth at the center).

* Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543): This Polish astronomer revived Aristarchus's heliocentric theory in the 16th century. He published his groundbreaking book "De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium" (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) shortly before his death, which detailed his heliocentric model and provided evidence to support it.

While Copernicus is often credited with discovering that the Earth orbits the Sun, it's important to remember that Aristarchus was the first to propose this idea centuries earlier. Copernicus's contribution lies in providing a more detailed and convincing argument for the heliocentric model, ultimately leading to its acceptance by the scientific community.