Kepler and the Universe: How One Man Revolutionized Astronomy

Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) was a German scientist and a key figure in the history of astronomy. This biography brings the man and his discoveries to life, showing how his contributions were as important as those of Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton. Kepler advocated the concept of gravity and established that the orbits of planets were elliptical. He also developed three laws of planetary motion that are still used today. The book combines historical and personal details of Kepler's life with explanations of his scientific research, presenting a sympathetic portrait of the man and underscoring the importance of his discoveries in astronomy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2023
Publisher: Prometheus Books

Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) was a pioneering German scientist and a key figure in the history of astronomy, a contemporary of Galileo and a forerunner of Isaac Newton. This colorful, well-researched biography brings the man and his scientific discoveries to life, showing how his contributions were every bit as important as those of Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton. It was Kepler who first advocated the completely new concept of a physical force emanating from the sun that controls the motion of the planets - today we call this gravity and take it for granted. He also established that the orbits of the planets were elliptical in shape and not circular. And his three laws of planetary motion are still used by contemporary astronomers and space scientists.

The author focuses not just on these and other momentous breakthroughs but also on Kepler's arduous life, punctuated by frequent tragedy and hardships. His first wife died young, and eight of the twelve children he fathered succumbed to disease in infancy or childhood. He was frequently caught up in the religious persecutions of the day. His mother narrowly escaped death when she was accused of being a witch. Intermingling historical and personal details of Kepler's life with lucid explanations of his scientific research, this book presents a sympathetic portrait of the man and underscores the critical importance of Kepler's discoveries in the history of astronomy.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781633889477