Johannes Kepler Facts
Johannes Kepler was a renowned German astronomer. He was born on December 27, 1571 in Weil der Stadt, Germany. He played an important role in the field of astronomy. In 1577, he witnessed a comet and a lunar eclipse in 1580. Kepler’s works, “Epitome of Copemican Theory”, “Astronomia Nova” and “Harmonices Mundi” formed the basis of Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity.
Three Laws of Planetary Motion by Kepler: –
- Every planet orbits the sun in an elliptical motion. It is called the Law of Ellipses.
- During equal intervals of time, equal areas are swept out by an imaginary line drawn to join a planet and the sun. It is called the Law of Equal Areas.
- Ratio of squares of orbital periods of two planets is equal to ratio of cubes of their average distances from the Sun. It is called the Law of Harmonies.
Facts you didn’t know: –
- Kepler suffered from small pox at a very early age. This disease has left him with crippled hands and weak eyesight.
- He is known as the founder of modern optics as he discovered eyeglasses for near eye sightedness and far eye sightedness.
- He invented an upgraded version of refracting telescope that was named as Keplerian telescope.
- He believed in the Copernican system.
- In October 1604, Johannes Kepler observed the SN 1604 star go supernova. He was the first astronomer to observe a supernova.
- He has a mountain range named after him in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park.
- Johannes Kepler died on November 15, 1630.