Astronomy Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Astronomy Test!

The heliocentric theory, which posits that the Sun is at the center of the solar system with the Earth and other planets orbiting around it, is attributed to Nicholas Copernicus. His groundbreaking work, "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium" published in 1543, laid the foundation for modern astronomy by challenging the geocentric model that placed the Earth at the center of the universe. Copernicus’s theory not only shifted the perspective on the structure of the solar system but also inspired future astronomers, including Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler, to develop further insights into planetary motion and the nature of celestial bodies. This pivotal shift marked the beginning of the Scientific Revolution, fundamentally changing our understanding of the cosmos.