Johannes Kepler was a German mathematician, astronomer, and key figure in the scientific revolution of the early 17th century. Born in 1571, he is best known for formulating the three laws of planetary motion, which describe the paths of planets around the sun. His work provided critical support for the heliocentric theory originally proposed by Copernicus, marking a significant shift in astronomical thought. Kepler's innovative approach combined careful observation with mathematical analysis, leading to groundbreaking discoveries about the solar system's dynamics.
Kepler's first law states that planets move in elliptical orbits with the sun at one focus. His second law, known as the law of equal areas, explains that a line connecting a planet to the sun sweeps out equal areas during equal intervals of time, which shows that planets travel faster when they are closer to the sun. The third law establishes a relationship between the time a planet takes to orbit the sun and its distance from it, illustrating a profound harmony in planetary motion and laying the groundwork for later developments in physics and astronomy.