* Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543): Known for his heliocentric model of the solar system, which placed the Sun at the center and Earth revolving around it. This challenged the prevailing geocentric model of the time and revolutionized our understanding of the universe.

* Tycho Brahe (1546-1601): A brilliant observer and meticulous recorder of astronomical data, Tycho Brahe made groundbreaking contributions to the field. He compiled detailed observations of planetary positions, which were later used by Johannes Kepler to develop his laws of planetary motion.

While not strictly considered part of the Renaissance period (which is generally considered to end in the 16th century), Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) is also a crucial figure to mention. He built on Tycho Brahe's work and formulated his famous three laws of planetary motion, which further solidified the heliocentric model and advanced our understanding of celestial mechanics.