Historical Astronomers in Context: Johannes Kepler

Solar System by NASA and Kepler by Wikipedia Commons

Background

Johannes Kepler (December 27, 1571 to November 15, 1630) was important to astronomy for several reasons. He is most well-known for developing a model of planetary motion that fit Tycho’s data. Kepler’s first law states that the orbit of each planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus. His second law states that a planet moves faster in the part of its orbit nearer the Sun and slower when farther from the Sun, sweeping out equal areas in equal times. Lastly, his third law states that more distant planets orbit the Sun at slower average speeds, obeying the mathematical relationship p^2 = a^3.

Historical Events

One major historical event that occurred during Kepler’s lifetime was The Spanish Armada of 1588. The Spanish Armada involved a fleet of ships sent by King Philip II to invade England. His fleet was defeated by the English navy, which was a major setback for the Spanish navy and ultimately led to the decline of Spain’s influence throughout Europe.

Another historical event that occurred was The Gunpowder Plot in 1605. This event was a failed attempt by a small group of English Catholics to assassinate King James I of England in an attempt to destroy the Houses of Parliament. This event is memorialized as a significant moment in the UK’s history; Guy Fawkes Day is still celebrated to this day from that assassination failure.

Historical Figure

Another famous historical figure that lived at the same time Kepler did was William Shakespeare who was born on April 23, 1564 and died on April 23, 1616. William Shakespeare is widely considered to be one of the greatest writers of playwrights and poems in the English language. Some of his most influential works include plays such as “Romeo and Juliet,” “Hamlet,” and “Macbeth,” all of which had a lasting influence on literature and the English language.

Reflection

Learning about the context in which Johannes Kepler lived is intriguing because it provides a glimpse into what the world was like during that period of significant change. The other historical events and monumental figures alive during this time highlight the diversity of the human experience and major achievements that hold significance even to this day. It is interesting to see how different events may intersect or influence each other along with how they all shape the world we live in. All in all, this context helps shed light on the complex history of our world, and that is incredibly fascinating in and of itself.