Who proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system?

Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system, which posits that the Sun is at the center and that the Earth, along with other planets, orbits around it. This was a revolutionary idea during the 16th century when it contradicted the longstanding geocentric model, which placed the Earth at the center of the universe. Copernicus's work laid the foundation for modern astronomy by shifting the perspective on celestial mechanics and advocating for a model that was later confirmed by observations made by astronomers such as Galileo and Kepler. His seminal work, "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium," outlined these ideas and sparked further exploration into planetary motion, ultimately leading to a better understanding of the structure of our solar system and the broader universe.