COPERNICAN

, something relating to Copernicus. As, the

Copernican Sphere. See Sphere.

Copernican System, is that system of the world, in which it is supposed that the sun is at rest in the centre, and the earth and planets all moving around him in their own orbits.

Here it is supposed, that the heavens and stars are at rest; and the diurnal motion which they appear to have, from east to west, is imputed to the earth's diurnal motion from west to east.

This system was maintained by many of the ancieñts; particularly Ecphantus, Seleucus, Aristarchus, Philolaus, Cleanthes Samius, Nicetas, Heraclides Ponticus, Plato, and Pythagoras; from the last of whom it was anciently called the Pythagoric, or Pythagorean System.

This system was also held by Archimedes, in his book of the number of the Grains of Sand; but after him it became neglected, and even forgotten, for many ages; till about 300 years since, when Copernicus revived it; from whom it took the new name of the Copernican System. See the next article.