- Developed the heliocentric model of the solar system, which placed the Sun at the center and Earth and other planets revolving around it.
- Challenged the geocentric model, which had been accepted since ancient times.
Kepler (1571-1630)
- Discovered three laws of planetary motion, which described the elliptical orbits of planets and their varying speeds at different points in their orbits.
- Supported the heliocentric model.
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
- Made observations of the sky using a telescope and made several important discoveries, including the phases of Venus, the four largest moons of Jupiter, and sunspots.
- Provided strong evidence for the heliocentric model and supported the Copernican revolution.
Newton (1643-1727)
- Developed the law of universal gravitation which explained the motion of celestial bodies and terrestrial objects.
- Unified the understanding of motion on Earth and in the heavens.
The ideas of Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo and Newton led to a major shift in European worldview, from the Earth-centered geocentric model to the Sun-centered heliocentric model. This had profound implications for scientific and philosophical thought and marked a shift towards a more scientific understanding of the universe.