While ancient Greek philosophers like Aristarchus of Samos had proposed a heliocentric model centuries before, Copernicus's work in the 16th century was the first comprehensive and detailed model that challenged the prevailing geocentric (Earth-centered) view of the universe.
Copernicus published his groundbreaking work "De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium" (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) in 1543, just before his death. His theory, which placed the sun at the center of the solar system, was met with resistance from both the Church and many astronomers. However, his work paved the way for future astronomers like Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler, who further developed and refined the heliocentric model.
