Johannes Kepler
Also called: Kepler · Topic: Renaissance, Reformation and the Scientific Revolution · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Changing Cultural Traditions"
Meaning
Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) was a German astronomer. He helped win acceptance for Copernicus's idea that the planets go round the sun. His book Cosmographical Mystery made this sun-centred view popular. He also showed that planets move round the sun in ellipses, which are stretched, oval-shaped paths, and not in perfect circles.
Example
Kepler's discovery that planetary orbits are ellipses corrected Copernicus's belief that they were perfect circles. It also gave Newton a base for his theory of gravitation (1687).
Don't confuse with
- Galileo Galilei: Both supported Copernicus. Kepler is linked with Cosmographical Mystery and ellipses. Galileo is linked with The Motion and the dynamic, moving world.