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Dec 27, 1571
Johannes Kepler is Born
Johannes Kepler is born on December 27th 1571 in Germany. Kepler is most well known for his contributions to science and mathematics. Particularly the three Laws of Planetary Motion that will be covered throughout this timeline. -
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Johannes Kepler Attends University
Johannes Kepler attends the University of Tubingen. This is where his foundation of mathematics would stem from and start him on the path to the Laws of Planetary Motion. -
Kepler Figures out the Second Law of Planetary Motion
"The radius vector describes equal areas in equal times." Kepler's discovery of the second law actually precedes the first law's announcement. This law is stating that as a planet orbits, the amount of distance the planet travels, the area it covers will be equal. -
First Law of Planetary Motion Announced
Planets move in ellipses with the Sun at one Focus. is the first law. Prior to this, the belief was that planets moved in perfect circles around the Sun. Kepler's observations didn't match what the math was showing, so he did further measurements and found that this first law was the reality of the situation. -
Astronomia Nova is Published
Astronomia Nova was the first time Kepler had published his findings on Planetary motion. This was only the first two laws, and the third law would be discovered later. -
Third Law of Planetary Motion is Discovered
"The squares of the periodic times are to each other as the cubes of the mean distances." Kepler had discovered this law of planetary motion by figuring that the shorter the distance from the Sun the planet was, the faster the planet moved, and vice versa. This law was published later on in 1619. -
Death of Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler dies in Regensburg, Germany.