Nicolaus Copernicus Museum in Frombork

De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium, Book 1, Chapter X
The first and the highest of all is the sphere of the fixed stars, which contains itself and everything, and is therefore immovable. It is unquestionably the place of the universe, to which the motion and position of all the other heavenly bodies are compared...
The sphere of the fixed stars is followed by the first of the planets, Saturn, which completes its circuit in 30 years. After Saturn, Jupiter accomplishes its revolution in 12 years. Then Mars revolves in 2 years. The annual revolution takes the series' fourth place, which contains the earth... together with the lunar sphere as an epicycle. In the fifth place Venus returns in 9 months. Lastly, the sixth place is held by Mercury, which revolves in a period of 80 days.
At rest, however, in the middle of everything is the sun, For in this most beautiful temple, who would place this lamp in another or better position than that from which it can light up the whole at the same time. For the sun is called by some people the lantern of the universe, its mind by others and its ruler by still others.

1512

Copernicus begins his cycle of observations of the planets with Mars.

1514-1515

Starts writing Book I

1515-1516

Observation of the Sun’s path, resulting in the discovery that the diurnal point of the Sun’s course had moved over 30 degrees since the time of Ptolemy; Copernicus’aim is to establish the magnitude of the precession and the corresponding length of the sidereal year.

1515

Discovery that the Sun’s eccentric is variable and that is apogee is moveable.

1516

Discovery of the mobility of the Earth’s apsides and of certain changes in the eccentric of its path.

1519-1520

Final editing of Book I.

1523

Completes Book II.

1524

Completes research work on the theory of the Moon.

1524-1525

Begins work on Book III.

1525-1526

Works on theory of precession (Chapters 1-14, Book III).

1527

Determines eccentric variability and apsidal motion for Saturn.

1529

Determines eccentric variability and apsidal motion for Jupiter.

1530

Completes writing Books IV-VI.

1532

Determines of eccentric variability and apsidal motion for Venus.

1533

Copernicus’ opinions presented in the manuscript of his Cook given to Pope Clement VII.

1536

1536 Tiedeman Giese writes a treatise to defend Copernicus’ theory.

1539

Martin Luther expresses his opinion of Copernicus:“This fool wants to turn the entire science of astronomy upside down! But, as the Bible tells us, Joshua told the Sun, not the Earth, to stop in its path!” Georg Joachim von Lauchen (Rheticus), arrives at Frombork and begins his work with Copernicus to prepare the manuscript of De Revolutionibus for publication; Chapters 1-13 added to Book II, the final chapters to Book V, and Chapters 5-9 to Book VI.

1540

Makes second calculation of the period of the sidereal year. Narratio Prima (The First Account), by Georgius Joachimus Rheticus (Retyk), propagating Copernicus’ theories, published in Gdansk.
Johannes Petreius, printer of Nuremberg, offers his services for the publication of De Revolutionibus.

1541

Andreas Osiander, a Nuremberg theologian, advises Copernicus to describe his discovery in the prologue to his work as a hypothesis, thereby toning down its initial impact.
A second edition of Narratio Prima comes out in Basel. Copernicus performs his last astronomical observation (a solar eclipse).
Rheticus leaves Frombork, taking with him the manuscript of De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium for publication at Nuremberg.
The reformer, Phillip Melanchton, a close associate of Luther voices his opinion of Copernicus:“Some believe that to expound such an absurd matter, as that Sarmatian [Polish] astronomer has done, who would move the Earth and stop the Sun, is an excellent thing. Verily, wise governors should curb such talented rashness”.

1542

The first two folios of De Revolutionibus come off the press at Nuremberg.
Copernicus sends his prologue, with a dedication to Pope Paul III, to Nuremberg. Chapters 13 and 14 of Book 1 appear as a separate book on trigonometry entitled De Lateribus et Angulis Triangulorum... Libellus (A LIttle Book on the Sides and Angles of Triangles), with a foreword by Rheticus.
The Cracovian astronomer, Albert of Buków, proudly proclaims that“Nicolaus Copernicus, Canon of Warmia, who once used to live in this city, and who has drawn from this University as his principal fount for that admirable work he has already produced in the mathematical sciences which he yet intends to publish; which hi by no means denieth, yea, indeed acknowledging that for all these things he is indebted to our University”.

1543

De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium is published in Nuremberg.

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1512	Copernicus begins his cycle of observations of the planets with Mars.
1514-1515	Starts writing Book I
1515-1516	Observation of the Sun’s path, resulting in the discovery that the diurnal point of the Sun’s course had moved over 30 degrees since the time of Ptolemy; Copernicus’aim is to establish the magnitude of the precession and the corresponding length of the sidereal year.
1515	Discovery that the Sun’s eccentric is variable and that is apogee is moveable.
1516	Discovery of the mobility of the Earth’s apsides and of certain changes in the eccentric of its path.
1519-1520	Final editing of Book I.
1523	Completes Book II.
1524	Completes research work on the theory of the Moon.
1524-1525	Begins work on Book III.
1525-1526	Works on theory of precession (Chapters 1-14, Book III).
1527	Determines eccentric variability and apsidal motion for Saturn.
1529	Determines eccentric variability and apsidal motion for Jupiter.
1530	Completes writing Books IV-VI.
1532	Determines of eccentric variability and apsidal motion for Venus.
1533	Copernicus’ opinions presented in the manuscript of his Cook given to Pope Clement VII.
1536	1536 Tiedeman Giese writes a treatise to defend Copernicus’ theory.
1539	Martin Luther expresses his opinion of Copernicus:“This fool wants to turn the entire science of astronomy upside down! But, as the Bible tells us, Joshua told the Sun, not the Earth, to stop in its path!” Georg Joachim von Lauchen (Rheticus), arrives at Frombork and begins his work with Copernicus to prepare the manuscript of De Revolutionibus for publication; Chapters 1-13 added to Book II, the final chapters to Book V, and Chapters 5-9 to Book VI.
1540	Makes second calculation of the period of the sidereal year. Narratio Prima (The First Account), by Georgius Joachimus Rheticus (Retyk), propagating Copernicus’ theories, published in Gdansk. Johannes Petreius, printer of Nuremberg, offers his services for the publication of De Revolutionibus.
1541	Andreas Osiander, a Nuremberg theologian, advises Copernicus to describe his discovery in the prologue to his work as a hypothesis, thereby toning down its initial impact. A second edition of Narratio Prima comes out in Basel. Copernicus performs his last astronomical observation (a solar eclipse). Rheticus leaves Frombork, taking with him the manuscript of De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium for publication at Nuremberg. The reformer, Phillip Melanchton, a close associate of Luther voices his opinion of Copernicus:“Some believe that to expound such an absurd matter, as that Sarmatian [Polish] astronomer has done, who would move the Earth and stop the Sun, is an excellent thing. Verily, wise governors should curb such talented rashness”.
1542	The first two folios of De Revolutionibus come off the press at Nuremberg. Copernicus sends his prologue, with a dedication to Pope Paul III, to Nuremberg. Chapters 13 and 14 of Book 1 appear as a separate book on trigonometry entitled De Lateribus et Angulis Triangulorum... Libellus (A LIttle Book on the Sides and Angles of Triangles), with a foreword by Rheticus. The Cracovian astronomer, Albert of Buków, proudly proclaims that“Nicolaus Copernicus, Canon of Warmia, who once used to live in this city, and who has drawn from this University as his principal fount for that admirable work he has already produced in the mathematical sciences which he yet intends to publish; which hi by no means denieth, yea, indeed acknowledging that for all these things he is indebted to our University”.
1543	De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium is published in Nuremberg.