While many scientists contributed to the understanding of Earth's motion around the Sun, the most prominent figure is Nicolaus Copernicus. He formulated the heliocentric model of the solar system, which placed the Sun at the center with the Earth and other planets revolving around it.

This model challenged the prevailing geocentric model (Earth-centered universe), which had been accepted for centuries. While Copernicus's model was initially met with skepticism, it laid the foundation for future scientific discoveries and revolutionized our understanding of the universe.