Johannes Kepler

Profession: Astronomer

Nationality:

Biography: A key figure in the 17th century scientific revolution, Johannes Kepler discovered how planets rotated the sun, with elliptical orbits. He formulated three laws, Kepler's Laws, and published them in works such as his "Astronomia Nova" (1609), "Harmonices Mundi" (1619), and "Epitome of Copernican Astronomy" (1617-21).

Kepler was working during a time when astronomy was still closely aligned with astrology with Kepler himself providing the bridge between this world and one where astronomy came to be more associated with physics. Carl Sagan called him "the first astrophysicist and the last scientific astrologer"

Kepler initially worked more theoretically until he moved in 1600 to assist astronomer Tycho Brahe in Prague. There he was able to use Brahe's observational records to document and develop his theories.

Kepler's work went on to provide one of the foundations of Isaac Newton's theory of universal gravitation.

Born: December 27, 1571
Birthplace: Weil der Stadt, Holy Roman Empire
Star Sign: Capricorn

Died: November 15, 1630 (aged 58)