Johannes Kepler

By bpilguy
  • Dec 27, 1571

    Birth

    Birth
    Johannes Kepler was born on December 27, 1571 to a poor family in the town of Weil der Stadt

  • Attended University of Tubingen

    Attended University of Tubingen
    Johannes Kepler attended the University of Tubingen on a scholarship. There he met and was tutored in Copernicus's work by one of Germany's most talented astronomers, Michael Maestlin.

  • the Mysterium Cosmographicum

    In 1596, as a mathematics teacher in Graz, Austria, Kepler wrote his paper that was very outspoken in defending the Copernican system It was called, Mysterium Cosmographicum

  • The Optical Part of Astronomy

    in 1604 Kepler published Ad Vitellionem Paralipomena, Quibus Astronomiae Pars Optica Traditur (Supplement to Witelo, in Which Is Expounded the Optical Part of Astronomy) which exlained the process of vision by light refracting within the eye and which led to the formulation of designs for glasses that would help correct near and farsightedness.

  • Astronomia Nova

    Astronomia Nova
    In 1609 Kepler published his Astronomia Nova that documented his theory that planets move in elliptical orbits with the sun at one focus and the time necessary to traverse any area between the central body and that arc (know as ''area law'')

  • Harmonices Mundi

    Published in 1619, the Harmonices Mundi, theorized that there is an exact relationship between the squares of the planet's periodic times and the cubes of the radii of their orbits (known as ''Harmonic Law")

  • Calculating Planetary Positions

    In 1621 his most influential work, the Epitome Astronomiae, was published. This discussed heliocentric astronomy in a systematic way. Within this publication were calculations which Kepler developed and provided tables that would be used to calculate future and past planetary positions.

  • Death

    Johannes Kepler died in Regensberg, Germany on November 11, 1630 after leaving his home to try and collect on some bonds. After arriving to Regensberg he became ill with fever and died shortly after. His resting place was destroyed during the Thirty Years War. His tomb was inscribed with his words " I used to measure the heavens, now I shall measure the shadows of the earth. Although my soul was from heaven, the shadow of my body lies here."