This book provides an in-depth look at the development of Copernicus's theory, the effect it had on the lives of scientists willing to defend it at great personal cost, and heliocentrism's role in the latest astronomical research.

Introduction : where does Earth fit in the universe? -- The problem of understanding the universe -- The science behind the Copernican revolution -- The major players -- The discovery itself -- The influence of the Copernican system today -- Chronology -- Glossary.