Around 1514, Polish cleric Nicolaus Copernicus had an initial outline of his tantalizing heliocentric theory, which placed the Sun—not Earth—at the center of our universe. But it wasn’t until decades later that On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres was published, upending the way we understand our place in the universe. Science writer Dava Sobel, author of A More Perfect Heaven, chronicles the history of the Copernican Revolution, with special attention to the events that convinced Copernicus to publish his dangerous ideas. In addition, local actors Hans Altwies (as Copernicus) and Darragh Kennan (as Rheticus) perform a staged reading from the play that is part of Sobel’s book. Presented as part of Seattle Science Lectures, with Pacific Science Center and University Book Store. Series sponsored by Microsoft. Series media sponsorship provided by KPLU.