Kepler mixed different theories and knowledge in his scientific activity. He deeply believed in the heliocentric doctrine of Copernicus and in the "harmony of the world." The scientist worked tirelessly to discover patterns in the orbits of the planets, performing increasingly complex numerical calculations to discover the secret plan of the universe, God's plan. He studied the symmetries of regular geometric bodies, as he was convinced that God (the Creator and Designer of the Universe) loves geometric puzzles.
Childhood
Johannes Kepler was born on December 21, 1571 into a poor noble family. Throughout his childhood, he was weak and fragile, but fought hard for his life. His parents' marriage was not an example of great love. His mother Katarina came from a wealthy family with Protestant roots. Henry's father was a merchant by profession, but he did not earn too much, so he married Katarina, hoping for a large dowry.
Family bankruptcy ruined the life of the Kepler family. Its consequence was that the father of the young Johann decided to join the army. After his father returned from military service, the whole family moved to Leonberg. However, Henry was not attracted to family life, and after a short time, leaving his wife with seven children, he returned to the army with the decision to wander in distant countries. Johann, his mother and two younger siblings were left to fend for themselves. All educational responsibilities then fell to Mrs. Kepler. By the will of his mother, Johann intended to become a priest. Thus, after a few years, he entered the academy in Tübing.
Study and career
Johannes Kepler had an unusual talent. Already in the early years, teachers noticed his exceptional mathematical ability. He was an ambitious and creative student. Johann endured difficult and traumatic experiences, he grew up in poverty, illness and alone. At a young age, the future famous scientist narrowly escaped death after smallpox.
Upon graduation, he decided to study theology and later become a pastor. At that time Michael Mestlin visited Tübingen. He gave a series of lectures on the subject of geocentric theory. Michael was a silent follower of heliocentric views, although the situation at the time did not allow him to transmit them in school. In non-school activities, he met with trusted students and lectured by Ptolemy, and also explained the basics and assumptions about heliocentrism. These additional classes captured Kepler and had a huge impact on his future destiny.
After graduating from the Tübingen Academy, young Johann began his further theological studies. However, he could not finish them because he became a teacher in mathematics. To devote himself entirely to research, Kepler moved to Graz. In the same place, in 1596, his first work, The Secrets of the Cosmos, was created.
Personal life
In the late 16th century, in April 1596, he married Barbara. Kepler begins a pleasant family life in a small house in a small town, he also has no financial problems. However, this idyll did not last long. In the early autumn of 1600, he moved with his family to Prague, where he became a court mathematician at the court of Emperor Rudolf II. Kepler took this post after Tycho Bragin, who had died shortly before, and had to continue his work at the behest of his powerful new patron.
The black streak again overtook Kepler when Emperor Rudolph abdicated power, putting mathematician without a livelihood. In 1611, Kepler's wife died of typhus, the father sent the orphaned children to relatives in Moravia. In 1612, Kepler moved to Linz, where he became a regional mathematician. His seclusion prompted him to marry again. At the end of October 1613, he married Susanna Pittinger.
However, his peaceful life did not last long, because in 1615 Kepler's mother was accused of witchcraft. This was a very dangerous accusation, because women suspected of magic were burned at the stake. During a trial that lasted 6 years, Kepler was able to clear his mother's name from these absurd accusations.
Wind of wanderings
In 1619 he published another work entitled "The Harmony of the World in Five Books."
The outbreak of the Thirty Years' War and the beginning of religious persecution forced him to leave Linz. In the fall of 1626, Kepler traveled to Ulm, a city inhabited mainly by Protestants. He worked on decimal fractions, as well as calculating the volume of solids and mass. At the end of 1627, the scientist returned to Prague, where he wanted to settle. However, Kepler was a Protestant and could not live in a Catholic city.
In early 1628, Albrecht Wallenstein invited Kepler to settle in his lands. On July 25 of the same year, the scientist and his family moved to the area of the Zagan Duchy (Zagan). There was written a new work by Johann, namely: "Dream or Lunar Astronomy." Zagan also did not turn out to be as hospitable as he expected, a researcher and scientist forced to wander, there was not enough religious freedom. In addition, he was too far from the then scientific centers. Wallenstein's resignation in 1630 forced the Kepler family to move this time to Regensburg (Bavaria). The trip was so long and tiring that when Johann, weakened by adversity, reached his destination, he was already completely ill. Soon, on November 15 of the same year, Kepler passed away.
Conclusion. Innovative contribution
Following Copernicus' lead, Kepler placed the Sun at the center of his unique patterns. However, he was one step ahead of his predecessors. The scientist found that the planets move more and more slowly along their trajectory, the further they are from the Sun. The speed of the planets decreases with distance from the Sun. Kepler's discoveries underlie modern astronomy.
