The Johannes Kepler biography is important for many reasons...

He also made major contributions in the areas of astronomy and optics.In fact, some call him the father of modern optics. Kepler's theories and discoveries have helped give us a better understanding of our world.

In addition to being an astronomer, Kepler was also an accomplished mathematician and astrologer. It was probably his strong background in mathematics that was most useful to him, when he developed his now famous laws of planetary motion. Or maybe it was the observation and thorough study that he did when he was an assistant to Tycho Brahe.

Johannes Kepler's background

The Johannes Kepler biography began on December 27th, in the year 1571. He was born in Weil Der Stadt, in the southwestern part of Germany. Which at the time was part of the Roman Empire.

Even though his parents were dirt poor, his academic performance earned him a scholarship to the University of Tubingen. His family was devoutly Lutheran, so he intended to study for the Lutheran ministry.

It was at the University of Tubingen that he was first introduced to the field of astronomy and the theories of Nicolaus Copernicus. After he had become a mathematics instructor in the city of Graz, he wrote a paper called "Mysterium Cosmographicum" that supported the Copernican idea of the Solar System.

Unfortunately, the Johannes Kepler biography doesn't include him entering the Lutheran ministry because of his refusal to accept certain Luthera policies. Because of this, he was excluded from the Sacrement in the Lutheran church.

He lived in Graz until 1600, when he was forced out because he refused to become Catholic.

Working with Tycho Brahe

In February of 1600, Kepler met Tycho Brahe and some of his assistants. He stayed with Tycho for the next two months and the two astronomers began to exchange ideas. Later, after some disagreement about the terms, Kepler became one of Brahe's assistants.

The two continued to work together analyzing astronomical data, and collaborating on a project for the emperor called the Rudolphine Tables.

Tycho Brahe died unexpectedly on October 24th, 1601. After Tycho Brahe's death, Kepler was promoted to the post of imperial mathematician. This job consisted mainly of giving the emperor astrological advice. It also gave Johannes the chance to look at Tycho's data and to finish the astronomer's work.

The Johannes Kepler biography will be forever linked to Tycho Brahe, and maybe that's the way it should be. After all, Johannes Kepler's many contributions to the field of astronomy were greatly helped by Tycho Brahe's research.

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