Johannes Kepler: Planetary Motion
When one first thinks to astronomy, the first thing to come to mind might be the stars of the planets. It is always a fascinating thing to learn about the stars, but one should always start from somewhere when learning. One person’s research that is always going to be remembered is that of Johannes Kepler. He is not only the founder of contemporary astronomy but also an amazing mathematician. He was the first person to enlighten us on the theory of planetary motion. His three laws on planetary motion were a basis on Isaac Newton’s theory of universal gravitation. One of his books was the foundation of integral calculus and he advanced geometry. His research has been a huge influence on all kinds of things that we have today. He is such an important part of scientific history that NASA named a mission after him, which is a mission that involves telescopes in search for habitable planets outside of our solar system.
Kepler was born on 27 December 1571 in the First Imperial City of Weil der Stadt, Germany.. His father was Heinrich Kepler, a mercenary (Caspar 29). His mother, Katharina Guldenmann, was the daughter of an inn-keeper and was tried for witchcraft for he practices in healing and herbology (Connor 13). When he was at school, he was his happiest. School allowed him to nourish his mind in a way he did not get at home. He at first attended a German school, but later attended a Latin school that was formed to educate the new generation of clergy. After almost completing the primary schooling, his parents moved, causing him to have to work instead of learn. His first love for astrology probably was due to his mother, who took young Kepler to a viewing of a comet. Also at a ...
... middle of paper ...
...itable zone”. This never could have been achieved without the amazing finding of Johannes Kepler.
Works Cited
Borucki, W. J. "Kepler History." Kepler History. NASA, 22 May 2010. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.
Caspar, Max.Kepler. London: Abelard-Schuman, 1959. Print.
Connor, James A. Kepler's Witch: An Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic Order amid Religious War, Political Intrigue, and the Heresy Trial of His Mother. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 2004. Print.
Di Liscia, Daniel. "Johannes Kepler." Stanford University. Stanford University, 02 May 2011. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
Field, J. V. "Johannes Kepler.” Kepler Biography. Apr. 1999. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.
Watzke, Megan. "Chandra :: Photo Album :: Kepler's Supernova Remnant :: September 11, 2012." Chandra :: Photo Album :: Kepler's Supernova Remnant :: September 11, 2012. NASA, 11 Sept. 2012. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.
Copernicus was born in Poland and was raised by a prosperous German family. As a result, he really enjoyed his youth, taking twelve years at four different universities. In 1503, he finall...
Kuhn, T. S., 1957. The Copernican Revolution: Planetary Astronomy in the Development of Western Thought. Londen: Harvard University Press.
& MCMILLAN, S. 2008. Astronomy Today - Sixth Edition, United States of America, Pearson Education, Inc.
Galilei, Galileo, and Stillman Drake. Discoveries and Opinions of Galileo: Including the Starry Messenger (1610), Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina (1615), and Excerpts from Letters on Sunspots (1613), the Assayer (1623). New York: Anchor, 1990. Web
Edwin Hubble. (2003, March 25). Retrieved January 19, 2014, from Edwin Hubble Biographical and Information Resources: http://www.edwinhubble.com
Nicolaus Copernicus was born on February 19th 1473 in Thorn, Poland (now known as Torun) to a merchant father who was also a local official. At the age of ten, Copernicus’ father died and he was sent to live with his uncle who at the time was a priest. In 1491, at the age of 18, Copernicus went to Krakow Academy as a pupil. In 1496, Copernicus then travelled to Italy and studied law at the University of Bologna. During his time at the University of Bologna, Copernicus lived with Domenico Maria de Novara, a mathematics professor who encouraged him to study geography and astronomy. Furthermore, throughout his time in Italy, Copernicus travelled to Rome and studied at the universities of Padua and Ferrara. Than in 1503, Copernicus moved back to Poland and worked for his uncle now the bishop of Ermland as a secretary. When his uncle died in 1512, Copernicus moved to Frauenberg and worked for the church. During his time working at the church, Copernicus studied astronomy and in 1514, when the catholic church was looking to improve the calendar, Copernicus was asked to help. Copernicus’ upbringing helped shape his interests in the sciences, especially astronomy. Copernicus is known to have established the heliocentric theory, which replaced the previously accepted geocentric model. However, prior to Copernicus other thinkers such as Aristarchus as well as thinkers after such as Galileo developed a similar theory. Even though it is unclear who established the heliocentric model, Copernicus has had a major impact on our modern sciences.
Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer and mathematician ho discovered that planetary motion is elliptical. Early in his life, Kepler wanted to prove that the universe obeyed Platonistic mathematical relationships, such as the planetary orbits were circular and at distances from the sun proportional to the Platonic solids (see paragraph below). However, when his friend the astronomer Tycho Brahe died, he gave Kepler his immense collection of astronomical observations. After years of studying these observations, Kepler realized that his previous thought about planetary motion were wrong, and he came up with his three laws of planetary motion. Unfortunately, he did not have a unifying theory for these laws. This had to until Newton formulated his laws of gravity and motion.
2, Alter Dinsmore, Cleminshaw H. Clarence, Philips G John. Pictorial Astronomy. United States: Sidney Feinberg, 1963.
The team of Tycho Brahe and John Keppler were the next to study Copernicus’ theory. Brahe tried to disprove Copernicus’ theory and tried to prove the idea of the earth-centered universe. Although Keppler was Brahe’s assistant, he argued for Copernicus and analyzed Brahe’s data to conclude that the sun was the center of the universe. Keppler also used Brahe’s data to discover the movement of the planet Mars. This was the key to explaining all planetary motion. ii He also discovered the planets move in elliptical orbits, which also went against the beliefs of the church. Kepp...
Johannes was captivated by astronomy when he was very young. At six years old he saw the Great Comet of 1577 and at age nine observed a lunar eclipse. Growing up Kepler was not the brightest student, but after switching schools his intellect shone bright. He was offered a scholarship to attend the University of Tubingen where he studied under Vitus Muller and Jacob Heerbrand, both famous in their fields.
When you think about a great mathematician who comes to your mind? Do you think of Isaac Newton, Archimedes, or Da Vinci? These are men who greatly influenced the world with their mathematical achievements and study’s. A name that might not come to your head however is Edwin Hubble. Hubble is best known for his discoveries in Astronomy, but without math he wouldn’t be able to make his observations like he did. This makes him one of the best mathematicians the world knows. He started with a humble beginning to making the connection of science and math like no one had ever seen before.
Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer and mathematician who lived between 1671-1630. Kepler was a Copernican and initially believed that planets should follow perfectly circular orbits (“Johan Kepler” 1). During this time period, Ptolemy’s geocentric theory of the solar system was accepted. Ptolemy’s theory stated that Earth is at the center of the universe and stationary; closest to Earth is the Moon, and beyond it, expanding towards the outside, are Mercury, Venus, and the Sun in a straight line, followed by Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and the “fixed stars”. The Ptolemaic system explained the numerous observed motions of the planets as having small spherical orbits called epicycles (“Astronomy” 2). Kepler is best known for introducing three effectual, applicable and valid laws of planetary motion by using the precise data he had developed from Tycho Brahe, a Danish astronomer, which helped Copernicus’s theory of the solar system gain universal reception (“Johan Kepler” 1). Nevertheless, he had made further effective contributions in the field of astronomy, which are valid to society and were used to change how the universe was perceived.
Swerdlow, N., & Neugebaur, O. (1984). Mathematical astronomy in copernicus's de revolutionibus. New York: Springer-Verlag.
Sidney, Philip. "Astrophel and Stella." Online. Renascence Editions. U of Oregon P. 6 Apr. 1999. Available HTTP: darkwing.uoregon.edu.
Galileo was probably the greatest astronomer, mathematician and scientist of his time. In fact his work has been very important in many scientific advances even to this day.