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solarsystem.nasa.gov
The year is 1543, and I, Nicolaus Copernicus, am on my death bed.  I spent my life studying medicine, but more recently I have started studying the planets.  I looked at other scientists' theories about the formation of the solar system, and unlike the other scientists alive right now, I do not think the earth is the center of the universe.  In fact, I think the sun is the center.  I wrote down my idea of what the solar system looks like, but I am afraid to publish it.  If I tell people the sun is the center, the church will excommunicate me and kick me out!  The church is very powerful, so I do not want to be excommunicated.  Could you draw a model of the solar system so that the world can know the truth?
(Information from http://library.thinkquest.org/23830/copernicus.htm)

You try it!

Draw a picture of the solar system.  Note: Copernicus had limited information, so you only have the following solar system information:

  • There are six planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn.
  • There is a bright star (the Sun) that is seen on earth every day.
  • The earth has a moon that is seen nearly every night.

Good luck with your drawing!



 Neptune
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov

When you are finished, click here to continue through Copernicus' webquest. 

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