Special Google doodle to mark Nicolaus Copernicus 540th b'day

Popular search engine Google has put a special doodle on its home page to mark 540 th birthday of renowned astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus who devised the concept that planets revolve around the sun.

Born on February 19, 1473 in Poland, Copernicus expounded the heliocentric theory that proved the sun lies at centre of the universe. The theory put an end to the notion that the sun revolves around the earth.

Today's Google doodle showcases sun at the centre of the universe and other planets revolving around it. The third letter of Google's logo 'O' is represented by the sun in the doodle.

Copernicus work 'De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium - On the revolutions of the celestial spheres' (first edition 1543 in Nuremberg) had created a controversy as not many astrologers during that time support his heliocentric theory.

"Doodles are the fun, surprising, and sometimes spontaneous changes that are made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists," a Google webpage on doodles says.

Google celebrated India's 64th Republic Day this year by posting a doodle featuring an image of India's national animal tiger, while the iconic India Gate appeared at the lower left corner.
Netizens would recollect that a doodle recently featuring late ghazal singer Jagjit Singh greeted them on February 8. It was the search engine's way of paying tribute to the late singer on his 72nd birthday.