Nicolaus Copernicus
Occupation
Astronomer, Mathematician, Clergyman
Year born
1473
Research Areas
Planets, Mechanics
- Early Life
Nicolaus was born in Thorn, Poland. His father, who sold copper, died when Nicolaus was 10. After his father's death, Nicolaus’ uncle looked after him and made sure he had a good education.
When he was 23, Nicolaus went to Italy to study law. In Italy, he stayed with a maths professor and became interested in astronomy.
Measure a Day on Jupiter
Investigate Day and Night
On Earth, night follows day and day follows night. But why?
Complete this fun investigation to find out!
Measure the Sun's Rotation
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Have you noticed that your shadow changes over time? The cartoon on this page shows why shadows change during the day.
Explore Day and Night Around the World
Do different parts of the world experience day and night at the same time? Why do parts of the Earth have seasons? What are days and nights like at the north and south poles?