Nicolaus Copernicus, the celebrated Polish astronomer that revolutionised astronomical science, has been honoured with a Google doodle today on what would have been his 540th birthday.
Copernicus was best known for transforming the way we understand our solar system, presenting a theory that the sun was at the centre of what we now call the solar system, rather than the Earth.
Titled “De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium” (“On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres”) Copernicus’ theory proved not only that the sun was at the centre of the universe, but also that the planets revolved around the sun.
His theory challenged the long established belief that the Earth was at the centre, and when his heliocentric revolution was produced in 1530 it was condemned by Martin Luther as a piece of blasphemy.
Subsequently, the work was not published for many years, dismissed by astronomers of his time due to its controversial nature and their lack of understanding. Rumour has it that when Copernicus died in 1543, the very first printed copy of “De Revolutionibus” was placed in his hands on the same day.
Today’s Google doodle features an animated solar system with the planets circling the sun as was proved by Copernicus’ heliocentric universe theory.
The Copernicus Google doodle is the latest in a long line of adapted Google logos, including a playable Pac Man game, an ice-rink resurfacing mini-game tribute to Frank Zamboni, and other storybooks, video streams and incredible static artworks.
Most recently the Google branding was transformed into a Valentine’s Day tribute to George Ferris. Two Ferris wheels rotated at the push of a button to create a quirky animated dating service that paired random animals for a Valentine’s Day blind date with often comedic outcomes.
What do you think of the Google doodle tribute to Copernicus? What has been your favourite Google Doodle so far? Let us know at the Trusted Reviews Facebook and Twitter pages or the comments section below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
