Heliocentrism

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Heliocentrism (also known as the heliocentric model) is a superseded astronomical model that placed the Sun at the center of the universe, with the Earth and the planets in its orbit. It superseded geocentrism, which placed the Earth at the center of the universe. In modern astronomy, heliocentrism has been superseded by models based on relativity, in which the universe does not have an absolute center or preferred frames of reference. Historically, heliocentrism was opposed to geocentrism, which placed Earth at the center. The idea that Earth revolves around the Sun was proposed as early as the 3rd century BC by Aristarchus of Samos, who had been influenced by Philolaus's 5th-century BC concept that Earth was spherical and revolving around a "mystical" central fire that regulated the universe. In medieval Europe, however, Aristarchus's heliocentrism attracted little attention—possibly because of the loss of scientific works of the Hellenistic period. It was not until the 16th century that...

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