Johannes Kepler

Born in Weil der Stadt in 1571, Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer, mathematician, and natural philosopher whose work changed how people understood the solar system. He is most famous for the three laws of planetary motion, which showed that planets orbit the Sun in elliptical paths and move according to precise mathematical relationships.

Kepler worked with observations connected to Tycho Brahe and used them with unusual patience and precision, especially in his study of Mars. The result was a major break from older models of the cosmos and an important step toward modern physics and astronomy.

He also wrote on optics and mathematics, and his work on light and vision was highly influential in its own right. Kepler died in 1630, but his books and discoveries continued to shape science long after his lifetime.