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Poland celebrates 542nd anniversary of Copernicus birthday

Xinhua, February 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Towns and cities related to Nicolaus Copernicus in Poland are celebrating the 542nd anniversary of his birthday on Thursday.

Most important celebrations will be held in Torun, the town where the astronomer was born, and Frombork, the town where he was buried.

Nicolaus Copernicus was a Polish Renaissance mathematician and astronomer who formulated a model of the universe that places the Sun rather than the Earth at its center.

His most important opus was "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium" (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres). He was a man of many talents; a prominent polyglot, a doctor of canon law, a practicing physician, translator, governor and a diplomat.

On Thursday both in Torun and in Frombork flowers will be placed under the monuments of the astronomer. Apart from it, many expositions, performances and lectures referring to Copernicus will be held throughout the whole country.

In Olsztyn planetarium one can also have a piece of Copernicus' birthday cake. Many attractions for children are provided as well.

Nicolaus Copernicus was born on 19 February, 1473 and died in 1543. Endit