Kepler discovered that the planets move in ellipses, not perfect circles, overturning an idea that had dominated astronomy for two thousand years. Working with the detailed observations of the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, he worked out three laws describing how planets travel around the Sun. These laws later helped Isaac Newton develop his theory of gravity. Kepler also made important discoveries about optics and how the eye works. NASA named its planet-hunting space telescope after him, a fitting tribute to the man who first described planetary orbits accurately.
Key Milestones
1600: Joins Tycho Brahe in Prague
1609: Publishes Astronomia Nova
1619: Publishes his third law in Harmonices Mundi
1627: Publishes the Rudolphine Tables
Johannes Kepler (27 December 1571 – 15 November 1630) was a German polymath who was an astronomer, mathematician, astrologer, natural philosopher and music theorist.
Johannes Kepler's birthday is December 27. He was born on December 27, 1571 in Weil der Stadt, Germany.
How old was Johannes Kepler when he died?
Johannes Kepler died on November 15, 1630, aged 58.
Who shares a birthday with Johannes Kepler?
Famous people who share Johannes Kepler's December 27 birthday include Louis Pasteur, Marlene Dietrich, Salman Khan, Gérard Depardieu and Timothée Chalamet.
