The Copernican Revolution changed the way the world viewed its place in the universe. It introduced the concept of the heliocentric model of the solar system that predicted the Earth revolved around the Sun. Previous models stated that the Earth was the center of the universe.

The organization known as the International Astronomical Union is responsible for naming planets, moons, planetary features and minor bodies within the solar system. It is also responsible for deciding the parameters that define each type of celestial body.