Astronomy was used by early cultures for a variety of reasons. These include timekeeping, navigation, spiritual and religious practices, and agricultural planning. Ancient astronomers used their observations to chart the skies in an effort to learn about the workings of the universe. During the Renaissance Period, revolutionary ideas emerged about astronomy. One such idea was contributed in 1593 by Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who developed a heliocentric model that depicted the planets orbiting the sun. This was the start of the Copernican Revolution.
asTROnOMy was USEd bY earLY CultureS fOR A VaRiety oF rEasOnS. tHese INClUDe tIMeKeeping, nAVIgatiOn, sPIriTual And rELiGious prACtIces, And agriCulturaL planNinG. AncIEnT aStroNomErs Used ThEir obSErvAtions tO CHart the skIeS IN an EfforT tO learN aBoUt ThE workiNgs oF the uNivErSe. duRing the renaiSsanCE peRiod, reVolUtiOnary Ideas EmErGEd About astrONomy. one Such idea waS COntRIbutEd iN 1593 BY PoliSh astRoNomer nIcOLaUs CoperniCus, who deVelOPEd a HELiocentRic Model thAt depictED the planEts orbiting the sun. thiS was the staRT oF the CoPernicAN revOlution.