Based on his observations of the planets, Copernicus calculated the relative distance of the planets from the Sun using the heliocentric model, and these distances were:
A) 10 times too large
B) exactly correct
C) close to the correct values, with errors less than 0.5 AU
D) accurate, but not as accurate as Ptolemy's values
E) two times too small

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Copernicus's calculated distances for the six planets known at his time were relatively close to the correct values, with errors of less than 0.5 astronomical units (AU). However, he overestimated the distance to the Sun itself by a factor of about 3.

Based on His Observations of the Planets, Copernicus Calculated the Relative