Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)

Melissa Vazquez, Irvin Villatoro P.3

Contribution to astronomy• Laws of planetary motion in 1609

• Kepler stated three laws to calculate mathematically planet’s movements in their orbits around the sun.

1. The orbit of every planet is an ellipse with the sun at one of the two foci.

2. An imaginary line drawn from the center of the sun to the center of the planet will sweep out equal areas in equal intervals of time.

3. The square of the orbital period of a planet is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of it’s orbit.

Theories

Notable achievements

• He developed the Rudolphine tables which contained calculations using logarithms. Using these perpetual tables Kepler was able to calculate the planetary positions and predicted the transition of Venus and mercury across the face of the sun.

• The supernova 1604, also known as kepler’s nova or kepler’s supernova was the first observed in October 8, 1604.

• The remnant of kepler’s supernova’s is still a significant subject of modern astronomical studies.

• Kepler was fascinated with the night sky at an early age of six.

• A rare astrological conjunction in 1604 helped kepler calculate Christ’s birth. This calculation is universally accepted today.

• NASA’s 2009 kepler mission was named after Johannes Kepler for his key role and contributions to astronomy.

Facts you didn’t know

• Brighub.com• Hyperphysics.phg.com• Galileo:phys.virginia.com• Enwikipedia.org/wini/johannes_kepler• Kepler.nasa.gov.//mission/Johanneskepler• Galileo.phy.virgina.edu//• Fuse.pha.jhu.edu

Sources