"the universal theories proposed by copernicus:
a) explained the appearance of the sun's rotation with a theory of earthly rotation.
b) led to his arrest and imprisonment in a monastery.
c) were supported by protestants in order to make catholics look provincial.
d) made the universe less complicated by rejecting ptolemy's epicycles."

a) explained the appearance of the sun's rotation with a theory of earthly rotation.

Explanation:

Nicolaus Copernicus gave the model of the solar system , named as the Copernican heliocentrism , in the year 1543 .

According this model, the Sun is placed stationary at the very center of the universe and all the planets are moving in a defined path , with uniform speed .

The model gave modern astronomy a kick start .

Hence , from the question,

The correct statement is a) explained the appearance of the sun's rotation with a theory of earthly rotation.