Birth of Johannes Kepler
Birth of Johannes Kepler
Astronomer profile · World History Database
Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler converted the heliocentric model into a more accurate mathematical description of planetary motion. Working with Tycho Brahe’s observations, he showed that Mars and the other planets follow elliptical rather than perfectly circular paths.
Why Johannes Kepler matters in astronomy
Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion connected geometry, observation and prediction. They later became a crucial foundation for Isaac Newton’s explanation of gravitation and celestial mechanics.
26matching database records
Kepler, JohannesName2, Name1 format
Johannes Kepler timeline in the database
Mysterium cosmographicum (The Sacred Mystery of the Cosmos)
Publication of Mysterium cosmographicum (The Sacred Mystery of the Cosmos)
Mysterium cosmographicum
Publication of Mysterium cosmographicum (The Sacred Mystery of the Cosmos)
De Fundamentis Astrologiae Certioribus (Concerning the More Certain Fundamentals of Astrology)
Publication of De Fundamentis Astrologiae Certioribus (Concerning the More Certain Fundamentals of Astrology)
De Fundamentis Astrologiae Certioribus
Publication of De Fundamentis Astrologiae Certioribus (Concerning the More Certain Fundamentals of Astrology)
Astronomiae Pars Optica (The Optical Part of Astronomy), describes the astronomical implications of optics such as parallax and the apparent sizes of heavenly bodies
Publication of Astronomiae Pars Optica (The Optical Part of Astronomy), describes the astronomical implications of optics such as parallax and the apparent sizes of heavenly bodies
Astronomiae Pars Optica
Publication of Astronomiae Pars Optica (The Optical Part of Astronomy), describes the astronomical implications of optics such as parallax and the apparent sizes of heavenly bodies
Discovery of Parallax
Publication of Astronomiae Pars Optica (The Optical Part of Astronomy), describes the astronomical implications of optics such as parallax and the apparent sizes of heavenly bodies
Discovery of Planetary Motion
Finding that an elliptical orbit fit the Mars data, concludes that all planets move in ellipses, with the sun at one focus-Keplers first law of planetary motion
Law of Planetary Motion
Finding that an elliptical orbit fit the Mars data, concludes that all planets move in ellipses, with the sun at one focus-Keplers first law of planetary motion
Astronomia nova (New Astronomy)
Publication of Astronomia nova (New Astronomy)
Astronomia nova
Publication of Astronomia nova (New Astronomy)
Astronomia Nova
Publishes laws of elliptical planetary motion that prepare celestial mechanics for Newtonian gravity.
Jupiter Moons
Publishes support for Galileo's discovery of satellites orbiting Jupiter.
Copernican System
Publication of three volumes of Epitome astronomia Copernicanae (Epitome of Copernican Astronomy)
Epitome astronomia Copernicanae
Publication of three volumes of Epitome astronomia Copernicanae (Epitome of Copernican Astronomy)
three volumes of Epitome astronomia Copernicanae (Epitome of Copernican Astronomy)
Publication of three volumes of Epitome astronomia Copernicanae (Epitome of Copernican Astronomy)
De Fundamentis Astrologiae Certioribus (Concerning the More Certain Fundamentals of Astrology)
Publication of Harmonice Mundi (Harmony of the Worlds). Publication of De Fundamentis Astrologiae Certioribus (Concerning the More Certain Fundamentals of Astrology)
De Fundamentis Astrologiae Certioribus
Publication of Harmonice Mundi (Harmony of the Worlds). Publication of De Fundamentis Astrologiae Certioribus (Concerning the More Certain Fundamentals of Astrology)
Harmonice Mundi (Harmony of the Worlds)
Publication of Harmonice Mundi (Harmony of the Worlds). Publication of De Fundamentis Astrologiae Certioribus (Concerning the More Certain Fundamentals of Astrology)
Harmonice Mundi
Publication of Harmonice Mundi (Harmony of the Worlds). Publication of De Fundamentis Astrologiae Certioribus (Concerning the More Certain Fundamentals of Astrology)
Third Law of Planetary Motion
States the harmonic relation between orbital period and distance from the Sun.
Rudolphine Tables
Publication of the Rudolphine Tables
Transit of Mercury Prediction
Kepler's Rudolphine Tables predict that Mercury will cross the face of the Sun in November 1631.
Transit of Venus Prediction
Kepler's Rudolphine Tables predict a transit of Venus for 1631, although the event is not visible from Europe.
Death of Johannes Kepler
Death of Johannes Kepler
Related astronomy topics
Sources and editorial provenance
Compiled and edited by World History Database
Historical chronology compiled from the World History Database and checked against major scientific and historical reference sources.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
- Royal Museums Greenwich — History of astronomy
- Royal Museums Greenwich — History of the telescope
- NASA Science — Hubble timeline
- NASA Science — Exoplanet discovery history
- LIGO — GW150914 first gravitational-wave detection
- Event Horizon Telescope — first black-hole image
- NASA Webb — mission science and discoveries