The Man Who Moved the Earth: The 550th Anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus’ Birth

Where is the center of the cosmos? This has been a crucial question in the history of science from ancient times to the modern era. In 1543, Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus published De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres), challenging the long-standing geocentric model of Ptolemy with the heliocentric model, and breaking fresh ground for figures like Kepler, Galileo, Newton, and others to explore and understand the cosmos. This groundbreaking argument, known as the “Copernican Revolution”, is considered the beginning of modern science.

Every great civilization has constructed its own cosmic model, attempting to establish a connection between the minuscule individual and the vast cosmos. The history of constructing these cosmic models is not just a chapter in the history of science but also in the history of human thought.

What is displayed here is not only the scientific journey of human exploration of the cosmos but also the values, challenges, and hardships of scientific innovations. It represents the glory and dreams of humanity as we continuously push the limits of our understanding and explore the vast cosmos.

2023 will witness the 550th anniversary of the birth of the astronomer Copernicus and the 480th anniversary of the publication of On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. Gathering in Beijing, we search for truth and uncover new knowledge in the realms of history and the cosmos, drawing strength from this endeavor to face the challenges of the future.

2023年11月16日—12月31日