Last Updated:

2024-04-04 03:38:06

Johannes Kepler

German astronomer, mathematician, and writer

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German astronomer, mathematician, and writer

Johannes Kepler, a key figure in the 17th-century Scientific Revolution, is best known for his laws of planetary motion and influential books. He made significant contributions to astronomy, mathematics, and optics, and his work laid the foundation for modern science and the scientific method. Kepler's religious beliefs also influenced his scientific endeavors.

Galileo Galilei Isaac Newton Edwin Hubble Carl Friedrich Gauss Telescope James Clerk Maxwell John Maynard Keynes Theory of Relativity Quantum Mechanics Erwin Schrödinger

1571-05-15

Johannes Kepler

Johannes Kepler was a key figure in the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century.

1571-12-27

Birth of Johannes Kepler

Johannes Kepler, the famous German astronomer, was born on December 27, 1571.

1577

Observation of the Great Comet

At the age of six, he observed the Great Comet of 1577 with his mother from a high place.

1580

Observation of a Lunar Eclipse

At the age of nine, he observed a lunar eclipse and noted that the Moon appeared quite red.

1589-09

Entry into Theological Faculty at Tübingen

Johannes Kepler entered the Theological Faculty at Tübingen in September 1589, where he studied under Matthias Hafenreffer. This marked a shift in his academic focus towards theology before he later pursued mathematics and astronomy.

1590

Kepler's Apprenticeship to Tycho Brahe

In the late sixteenth century, Johannes Kepler apprenticed himself to the astronomical observer Tycho Brahe on the island of Hven in Denmark. Kepler absorbed a great deal of information from Tycho's observations, which influenced his later calculations.

1591-08

Awarded Master's Degree

Johannes Kepler was awarded a Master's degree in August 1591, recognizing his academic achievements and expertise in his field of study. This qualification further solidified his credentials as a scholar.

1594-03

Move to Graz as Mathematics Teacher

In March 1594, Johannes Kepler relocated to Graz to work as a mathematics teacher at the Protestant seminary. This career move allowed him to further develop his teaching skills and share his knowledge with students.

1596

Kepler's Mysterium Cosmographicum

In 1596, Kepler published his work 'Mysterium Cosmographicum' where he proposed a cosmological model based on the nesting of Platonic solids within spheres to explain the distances of the planets from the Sun.

1597-04-27

Marriage to Barbara Müller

Kepler married Barbara Müller, a widow with a young daughter, after overcoming initial objections due to financial reasons.

1598

Publication of Mysterium Cosmographicum by Johannes Kepler

In 1598, Johannes Kepler publishes his work 'Mysterium Cosmographicum' which supports Copernicus' heliocentric model.

1600-01-01

Kepler visits Tycho Brahe in Prague

On 1 January 1600, Johannes Kepler set off to visit Tycho Brahe in Prague, hoping for patronage to solve his philosophical, social, and financial problems.

1600-04-06

Kepler leaves Tycho Brahe's observatory

On 6 April 1600, Kepler left Tycho Brahe's observatory in Benátky nad Jizerou after failed negotiations for formal employment, but later reconciled with Tycho.

1600-07-10

Kepler's Observations of Lunar Eclipse

Kepler observed a lunar eclipse on 10 July 1600 in Graz, where he applied a new method for measuring lunar eclipses. These observations laid the foundation for his studies on the laws of optics.

1601-10-24

Kepler Appointed as Imperial Mathematician

Two days after Tycho Brahe's unexpected death on 24 October 1601, Kepler was appointed as his successor as the imperial mathematician. He was tasked with completing Brahe's unfinished work, marking the start of the most productive period of his life.

1602

Formulation of Kepler's second law of planetary motion

In 1602, Kepler formulated his second law of planetary motion, which states that planets sweep out equal areas in equal times. This law was a significant breakthrough in understanding the motion of planets and their orbits.

1604-01-01

Publication of Astronomiae Pars Optica

Kepler presented his manuscript on optical theory to the emperor, which was later published as Astronomiae Pars Optica. The work described the inverse-square law of light intensity, principles of reflection, and the implications of optics on astronomy.

1605

First Law of Planetary Motion Announced

The First Law of Planetary Motion is announced by Johannes Kepler in 1605. This law is a significant milestone in understanding planetary motion and lays the foundation for his subsequent laws.

1606

Kepler's Observation of the Last Supernova in Milky Way Galaxy

In 1606, Johannes Kepler observed the last supernova in our Milky Way galaxy, which he documented in his book De Stella Nova. The explosion of the dying star was initially as bright as Mars and could be seen with the naked eye.

1607

Birth of Kepler's son Ludwig

In 1607, Johannes Kepler and his wife had another son named Ludwig.

1609

Publication of New Astronomy

In 1609, Johannes Kepler published the book New Astronomy, which introduced his first and second laws of planetary motion.

1610-09

Publication of Dioptrice

In September 1610, Kepler completed and published a manuscript titled Dioptrice. This work detailed the theoretical basis of telescopic lenses, including double-convex converging lenses and double-concave diverging lenses, and introduced the concept of the Galilean telescope.

1611-07-03

Death of Barbara Kepler

Barbara Kepler, born around 1574, passed away on July 3, 1611.

1612

Kepler's Excommunication

In 1612, Kepler was excommunicated due to his religious beliefs not aligning with the orthodox Lutheranism of the time. Despite his high social standing as Imperial Mathematician, he was unable to have the ban lifted.

1613-10-30

Marriage of Johannes Kepler to Susanna Reuttinger

Johannes Kepler, aged 24, married Susanna Reuttinger in Linz on October 30, 1613.

1615

Publication of 'Nova stereometria doliorum' by Kepler

In 1615, Johannes Kepler published 'Nova stereometria doliorum' (New Stereometry of wine barrels) in Linz. This work, inspired by Archimedes, introduced the concept of 'indivisibles' and laid the foundation for infinitesimal calculus.

1616

Kepler discovers Napier's work on logarithms

In 1616, Kepler was delighted to come across Napier's work on logarithms, which were published in 1614. Despite initial skepticism from others, Kepler published a proof of how logarithms worked based on Euclid's Elements Book 5.

1617

Publication of Epitome Astronomiae Copernicanae

Kepler completed the first volume of Epitome, containing all three laws of planetary motion, but faced delays in publishing the subsequent volumes due to the ban on Copernican books and the Thirty Years' War.

1618-03-08

Kepler's Revelation on Planetary Proportions

Kepler mentally conceived the idea on March 8, 1618, but faced rejection initially. After adopting a new approach on May 15, he made a breakthrough in understanding the relationship between the periodic times of planets and their mean distances.

1619

Harmonices Mundi

Published in 1619, Harmonices Mundi by Johannes Kepler proposed the 'Harmonic Law,' which suggested a precise relationship between the squares of a planet's periodic times and the cubes of the radii of their orbits. This work contributed significantly to the understanding of celestial mechanics.

1621

Publication of expanded second edition of Mysterium

In 1621, Kepler published an expanded second edition of Mysterium, detailing corrections and improvements made over 25 years since its first publication. The Mysterium is considered an important step in modernizing Copernicus' theory by cleansing it of remnants of the Ptolemaic system.

1623

Completion of Rudolphine Tables

Kepler finished the Rudolphine Tables, a major work focusing on planet and star positions, but it was not printed until 1627 due to publishing requirements and negotiations.

1626

Kepler leaves Linz and starts working for Wallenstein

In 1626, Kepler left Linz and began working for Albrecht von Wallenstein, a successful military leader during the Thirty Years' War. This marked a shift in Kepler's career away from his role as Imperial Mathematician.

1627

Rudolphine Tables Published

In 1627, Johannes Kepler published the Rudolphine Tables, which were the most accurate astronomical tables of the time, supporting the heliocentric model of the solar system.

1628-07

Move to Zagan under Wallenstein's Patronage

In July 1628, Johannes Kepler moved to Zagan under the patronage of Wallenstein.

1630-10-08

Final Journey from Zagan

On October 8, 1630, Johannes Kepler embarked on his final journey from Zagan.

1630-11-11

Johannes Kepler's Death

Johannes Kepler passed away in Regensberg, Germany after falling ill with fever. His tomb, inscribed with a poignant message, was destroyed during the Thirty Years War.

1630-11-15

Death of Johannes Kepler

Johannes Kepler passed away in Regensburg due to an illness, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking contributions to astronomy and mathematics.

1631

Transit of Mercury

In 1631, Pierre Gassendi observed the transit of Mercury, confirming Kepler's prediction. This event marked the first observation of a transit of Mercury and validated aspects of Kepler's theory of planetary motion.

1632

Destruction of Kepler's Grave in Regensburg

In 1632, Johannes Kepler's grave in Regensburg was destroyed.

1639

Venus Transit

In 1639, Jeremiah Horrocks observed the transit of Venus, adjusting the parameters of the Keplerian model and successfully predicting the event. His observations further supported Kepler's laws of planetary motion.

1687

Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica

Isaac Newton published 'Principia Mathematica' in 1687, where he derived Kepler's laws of planetary motion from a force-based theory of universal gravitation. This marked a significant advancement in the understanding of celestial mechanics.

1758

Histoire des mathématiques by Jean-Étienne Montucla

Jean-Étienne Montucla's 1758 work 'Histoire des mathématiques' included Kepler and his laws of motion in early histories of astronomy. It approached Kepler's metaphysical and religious arguments with skepticism.

1821

Histoire de l'astronomie moderne by Jean-Baptiste Delambre

Jean-Baptiste Delambre's 1821 'Histoire de l'astronomie moderne' also discussed Kepler and his laws of motion. It viewed Kepler's metaphysical and religious arguments with skepticism, in line with Enlightenment perspectives.

1837

History of the Inductive Sciences by William Whewell

In 1837, William Whewell portrayed Kepler as the epitome of the inductive scientific genius in his work 'History of the Inductive Sciences'. Kepler was held up as a model for advanced scientific method.

1840

Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences by William Whewell

In 1840, William Whewell continued to praise Kepler in his 'Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences', considering him as embodying the most advanced forms of scientific method.

1859

Publication of Opere Vol. 2

The second volume of Opere, a collection of works in Latin, was published in 1859 in Frankfurt am Main by Heyder & Zimmer.

1860

Publication of Opere Vol. 3

The third volume of Opere, a collection of works in Latin, was published in 1860 in Frankfurt am Main by Heyder & Zimmer.

1863

Publication of Opere Vol. 4

The fourth volume of Opere, a collection of works in Latin, was published in 1863 in Frankfurt am Main by Heyder & Zimmer.

1864

Publication of Opere Vol. 5

The fifth volume of Opere, a collection of works in Latin, was published in 1864 in Frankfurt am Main by Heyder & Zimmer.

1866

Publication of Opere Vol. 6

The sixth volume of Opere, a collection of works in Latin, was published in 1866 in Frankfurt am Main by Heyder & Zimmer.

1868

Publication of Opere Vol. 7

The seventh volume of Opere, a collection of works in Latin, was published in 1868 in Frankfurt am Main by Heyder & Zimmer.

1870

Publication of Opere Vol. 8

The eighth volume of Opere, a collection of works in Latin, was published in 1870 in Frankfurt am Main by Heyder & Zimmer.

1871

Publication of Opere Vol. 9

The ninth volume of Opere, a collection of works in Latin, was published in 1871 in Frankfurt am Main by Heyder & Zimmer.

1923

Max Caspar's German translation of Kepler's Mysterium Cosmographicum

Max Caspar published his German translation of Kepler's Mysterium Cosmographicum in 1923, contributing to the accessibility of Kepler's work to a wider audience.

1930-11-15

Kepler's passing

On November 15, 1930, Johannes Kepler's life came to an end, marking the conclusion of his remarkable contributions to astronomy and physics.

1935

Foundation of Kepler-Kommission

The Kepler-Kommission was founded in 1935 to edit a critical edition of Johannes Kepler's collected works in 22 volumes on behalf of the Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften.

1937

Publication of Gesammelte Werke

In 1937, Johannes Kepler's 'Gesammelte Werke' was published in 19 volumes in Munich under the editorship of M. Caspar for C.H. Beck.

1938

Publication of Kepler's Mysterium Cosmographicum

The first volume of Kepler's collected works, including Mysterium Cosmographicum and De Stella Nova, was published in 1938 with a second edition in 1993.

1939

Publication of Kepler's Astronomiae pars optica

The second volume of Kepler's collected works, Astronomiae pars optica, was published in 1939.

1940

Publication of Kepler's Harmonice Mundi

The sixth volume of Kepler's collected works, Harmonice Mundi, was published in 1940 with a second edition in 1981.

1941

Publication of Kepler's Kleinere Schriften 1602–1611

The fourth volume of Kepler's collected works, Kleinere Schriften 1602–1611, including Dioptrice, was published in 1941.

1945

Briefe 1590–1599

Publication of letters from 1590 to 1599 edited by M. Caspar in 1945.

1949

Briefe 1599–1603

Publication of letters from 1599 to 1603 edited by M. Caspar in 1949.

1951

La gravitation universelle de Kepler à Newton

A.Koyré's work on the universal gravitation theory from Kepler to Newton was published in 1951.

1953

Publication of Kepler's Chronologische Schriften

The fifth volume of Kepler's collected works, Chronologische Schriften, was published in 1953.

1954

G Nádor's Publication on Kepler's World View and Role in the Development of the Notion of Law of Nature

G Nádor's article explores Kepler's world view and his contribution to the development of the notion of law of nature.

1955

Publication of Kepler's Mysterium Cosmographicum Editio altera cum notis

The eighth volume of Kepler's collected works, including Mysterium Cosmographicum, De Cometis, and Hyperaspistes, was published in 1955.

1956

G Holton, Johannes Kepler's universe : its physics and metaphysics

G Holton's article 'Johannes Kepler's universe : its physics and metaphysics' was published in 1956 in the American Journal of Physics. It explores the physics and metaphysics of Kepler's universe.

1957

Opera Die Harmonie der Welt

Paul Hindemith composed an opera about Kepler titled Die Harmonie der Welt in 1957, along with a symphony of the same name. This work was inspired by Kepler's astronomical ideas.

1959

Arthur Koestler's The Sleepwalkers

Arthur Koestler's 1959 book, The Sleepwalkers, portrayed Kepler as the hero of the Scientific Revolution, sparking philosophical debates about his role in history.

1961

O Neugebauer's Notes on Kepler

O Neugebauer provides notes on Kepler, shedding light on various aspects of his work and life.

1966

E Rosen's Study on Galileo and Kepler's First Two Contacts

E Rosen delves into the initial interactions between Galileo and Kepler, highlighting the significance of their early communications.

1968

Humor und Witz in Schriften von Johannes Kepler

W Gerlach's research in Bayer. Akad. Wiss. Math.-Natur. Kl. S.-B. in 1968 focused on the humor and wit found in Johannes Kepler's writings, providing insights into his personality and style.

1969

Publication of Kepler's Tabulae Rudolphinae

The tenth volume of Kepler's collected works, Tabulae Rudolphinae, was published in 1969.

1971

Johannes Kepler (on the 400th anniversary of his birth)

A Russian article commemorating the 400th anniversary of Johannes Kepler's birth, highlighting his achievements in natural sciences.

1972

Zur Geschichte der Logarithmentafeln Keplers

A study on the history of Kepler's logarithmic tables, exploring their significance in the development of mathematics and astronomy.

1973

Kepler's Weltharmonik

R Haase's research in Sudhoffs Arch. in 1973 explored Kepler's concept of Weltharmonik, analyzing its historical context and its relevance in the past, present, and future.

1975

Johannes Kepler. Four hundred years: Proceedings of conferences held in honour of Johannes Kepler

Proceedings of conferences held in honor of Johannes Kepler, marking four hundred years since his contributions to astronomy.

1976

Johannes Kepler in the light of recent research

E. J. Aiton's 1976 article delved into Johannes Kepler's life and work, examining his contributions in the context of contemporary research.

1977

Kepler and the 'Mysterium Cosmographicum'

E. J. Aiton's 1977 work delved into Kepler's 'Mysterium Cosmographicum', shedding light on this enigmatic aspect of Kepler's astronomical theories.

1978

Kepler's path to the construction and rejection of his first oval orbit for Mars

In 1978, E. J. Aiton discussed Kepler's journey towards formulating and ultimately discarding his initial oval orbit theory for Mars.

1979

Ontologie und Logik/Ontology and logic

Johannes Kepler's contribution to the progress of natural sciences through his work on ontology and logic, published in Berlin in 1979.

1980

Materialien zu den Ephemeriden von Johannes Kepler

Materials related to Johannes Kepler's ephemerides, possibly providing insights into his astronomical observations and calculations.

1981

S Straker's Study on Kepler, Tycho, and the 'Optical Part of Astronomy'

S Straker explores the genesis of Kepler's theory of pinhole images, emphasizing the influence of Tycho Brahe on Kepler's work.

1982

Die geplante Berufung von Johannes Kepler an die Universität Rostock

B Wandt's research on the planned appointment of Johannes Kepler to the University of Rostock in 1629/30, published in 1982 in NTM Schr. Geschichte Natur. Tech. Medizin.

1983

Publication of Kepler's biography in 'Biographien bedeutender Mathematiker'

In 1983, Kepler's biography was included in 'Biographien bedeutender Mathematiker' by H. Wussing and W. Arnold, highlighting his significance among notable mathematicians.

1984

Publication of 'The Watershed: A Biography of Johannes Kepler'

The book 'The Watershed: A Biography of Johannes Kepler' was published in 1984, providing a detailed account of the life of the famous astronomer Johannes Kepler.

1985

Publication of 'Measuring the Universe: Cosmic dimensions from Aristarchus to Halley'

The book 'Measuring the Universe: Cosmic dimensions from Aristarchus to Halley' was published in Chicago and London in 1985, covering the cosmic measurements throughout history, including contributions from Johannes Kepler.

1986

S H Hollingdale, A note on Kepler's solar system

S H Hollingdale's note on Kepler's solar system was published in 1986 in the Bulletin of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. It provides insights into Kepler's model of the solar system.

1987

Kepler's laws of planetary motion

An essay discussing the transformation of scientific problems before and after Newton's 'Principia', focusing on Kepler's laws of planetary motion.

1988

Kepler's fabricated figures : covering up the mess in the 'New astronomy'

W H Donahue discusses Kepler's use of fabricated figures to address discrepancies in the 'New astronomy'.

1989

Johannes Kepler in Planetary astronomy

O Gingerich's contribution in Planetary astronomy from the Renaissance to the rise of astrophysics Part A in 1989 discussed Johannes Kepler's significant role in the development of planetary astronomy during the Renaissance period.

1990

Keplers komplizierter Weg zur Wahrheit

An analysis of Kepler's complex journey towards truth, focusing on the challenges in interpreting 'Astronomia Nova'.

1991

Expectation, modelling and assent in the history of optics. II, Kepler and Descartes

The study 'Expectation, modelling and assent in the history of optics' compares the approaches of Kepler and Descartes in the field of optics.

1992

Kepler's road to Damascus

A E L Davis discusses Kepler's journey towards his groundbreaking discoveries in astronomy.

1993

Kepler's first thoughts on oval orbits : text, translation, and commentary

W H Donahue provides insights into Kepler's initial ideas on oval orbits through text, translation, and commentary.

1994

Kepler's invention of the second planetary law

W H Donahue explores Kepler's groundbreaking discovery of the second planetary law.

1995

Publication of Johannes Kepler by Max Caspar

In 1995, Max Caspar published a book about Johannes Kepler in Stuttgart.

1996

Kepler's approach to the oval of 1602, from the Mars notebook

W H Donahue discusses Kepler's methodological approach to studying the oval of 1602 as documented in the Mars notebook.

1997

Rediscovery of Archimedean polyhedra

J V Field's research in Archive for History of Exact Sciences in 1997 focused on rediscovering the Archimedean polyhedra and its connection to Piero della Francesca, Luca Pacioli, Leonardo da Vinci, Albrecht Dürer, Daniele Barbaro, and Johannes Kepler.

1998

Kepler, the ultimate Aristotelian

A E L Davis delves into Kepler's adherence to Aristotelian principles in his work.

2002

Johannes Kepler silver coin minted in Austria

In 2002, Austria minted a 10-euro silver coin featuring Johannes Kepler, highlighting his connection to Graz and Prince Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg.

2008-10

Kepler Space Observatory Launch

NASA's first planetary detection mission, named in honor of Johannes Kepler, was launched in October 2008.

2009

Opera Kepler by Philip Glass

Philip Glass created an opera called Kepler in 2009, focusing on Kepler's life. The libretto was written in German and Latin by Martina Winkel.

2013

Google Doodle 2013 - Crater Kepler on Mars

In 2013, Google Doodle featured Crater Kepler on Mars as a tribute to Johannes Kepler, a significant figure in the history of astronomy and mathematics.

2024-04-11

Last Updated of Johannes Kepler Article

The article about Johannes Kepler was last updated on April 11, 2024.

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Johannes Kepler