The first scientist to propose a heliocentric model of the solar system during the Renaissance was Nicolaus Copernicus. In his seminal work, "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium," published in 1543, Copernicus challenged the long-standing geocentric view, which held that Earth was the center of the universe. His revolutionary idea suggested that planets, including Earth, revolve around the Sun. This theory laid the groundwork for future astronomical advancements and significantly influenced subsequent scientists, including Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler.