Final answer:
Copernicus wanted to develop a new system for predicting planetary positions due to the inaccuracies of the old Ptolemaic system and his rejection of the geocentric model. His heliocentric theory provided a more precise and persuasive explanation for planetary movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Copernicus wanted to develop a completely new system for predicting planetary positions for two main reasons:
- The old Ptolemaic system required significant adjustments to predict the positions of the planets accurately. Copernicus recognized the need for an improved theory that could calculate planetary positions more precisely.
- Copernicus did not assume, as most people did, that Earth had to be in the center of the universe. He presented a defense of the heliocentric system, which stated that the sun, rather than the Earth, was the center of the universe. This new perspective challenged traditional beliefs and offered a more elegant and persuasive explanation for the movements of the planets.