Copernicus was Dr. Emmett Brown's dog in 1955, named after famed scientist Nicolaus Copernicus.
Copernicus, like Einstein later, was usually Doc's guinea pig in his experiments. He had been with Doc on the night of November 5, 1955, when Doc began testing his brain-wave analyzer on him.
Copernicus grieved for his master when he found Doc's tombstone in Boot Hill Cemetery the night that Doc and Marty McFly found the DeLorean time machine in the Delgado Mine.
Copernicus passed away in early September 1964, and Doc later welcomed a new canine companion from the dog shelter named Edison — continuing with the theme of pets named after famous scientists.
Copernicus appeared to be either a mixed-breed or a breed of terrier, possibly Wheaten.