Johannes Kepler
Early Life and Education
Johannes Kepler was born on December 27, 1571, in the Free Imperial City of Weil der Stadt, now part of Germany. His father, Heinrich Kepler, was a mercenary who left the family when Johannes was just five years old. His mother, Katharina Guldenmann, was a herbalist and healer, later tried for witchcraft. Kepler's early life was marked by hardship and illness. Despite these challenges, Kepler demonstrated a keen intellect and a passion for learning from a young age. He attended the University of Tübingen, a bastion of Lutheran orthodoxy, where he studied theology, philosophy, and mathematics.
Career and Discoveries
Kepler is best known for his eponymous laws of planetary motion, which are foundational to the field of astronomy. His first two laws were published in 1609 in his work Astronomia nova. His third law was published in 1619 in Harmonices Mundi. These laws describe the motion of planets around the sun in elliptical orbits, a radical departure from the prevailing belief in circular orbits. Kepler's laws were a significant contribution to the scientific revolution and laid the groundwork for the development of Newtonian physics.
Kepler also made significant contributions to the field of optics, including the invention of an improved version of the refracting telescope. He was the first to explain that the tides are caused by the Moon (an idea later expanded upon by Newton), and he laid the groundwork for the discovery of infinitesimal calculus.
Personal Life and Death
Kepler married twice, first to Barbara Müller in 1597, and after her death, to Susanna Reuttinger in 1613. He had a total of twelve children, though only five survived into adulthood. Kepler was deeply religious, and his faith played a significant role in his scientific work. He believed that God created the universe according to a mathematical plan, a belief that guided his research and discoveries.
Kepler died on November 15, 1630, in Regensburg, in the Duchy of Bavaria. His contributions to science were not fully recognized until after his death, but his legacy endures in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, and physics.
Legacy
Kepler's laws of planetary motion remain fundamental to modern astronomy. His work paved the way for the discoveries of later scientists like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. Today, Kepler is considered one of the key figures of the scientific revolution. His life and work are a testament to the power of scientific inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge.
