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→Kepler's contributions to astronomy
== Kepler's contributions to astronomy ==
== Kepler's contributions to astronomy ==
From this material Kepler formulated his three [[Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion|Laws of planetary motion]], his best-known contribution to astronomy. Central to these laws is the insight that celestial bodies travel in [[ellipse|elliptical]] [[orbit]]s. What might not be widely appreciated is that he endeavored to link astronomy with physics.<ref name=dao/> Kepler published his first exposition of his laws, ''Astronomia Nova'', in 1609. Kepler's insights would later help Sir [[Isaac Newton]] formulate his law of [[gravity]].
From this material Kepler formulated his three [[Kepler's laws of planetary motion|Laws of planetary motion]], his best-known contribution to astronomy. Central to these laws is the insight that celestial bodies travel in [[ellipse|elliptical]] [[orbit]]s. What might not be widely appreciated is that he endeavored to link astronomy with physics.<ref name=dao/> Kepler published his first exposition of his laws, ''Astronomia Nova'', in 1609. Kepler's insights would later help Sir [[Isaac Newton]] formulate his law of [[gravity]].
Very few of his fellow scientists appreciated the link between astronomy and physics. [[Galileo Galilei]], discoverer of the four [[dwarf planet]] sized [[moon]]s of [[Jupiter]], virtually ignored Kepler, as did [[René Descartes]] and even his old mentor Michael Maestlin.<ref name=dao/> But Kepler did not ignore Galileo. He published a lengthy letter of support for Galileo in 1610, after Galileo had published his findings of the [[Galilean moons|Jovian moons]], and in 1611 he published his own detailed observations of those same satellites. He made those observations, accurate to within one-tenth of a degree, once he acquired a suitable telescope.<ref name=rice/>
Very few of his fellow scientists appreciated the link between astronomy and physics. [[Galileo Galilei]], discoverer of the four [[dwarf planet]] sized [[moon]]s of [[Jupiter]], virtually ignored Kepler, as did [[René Descartes]] and even his old mentor Michael Maestlin.<ref name=dao/> But Kepler did not ignore Galileo. He published a lengthy letter of support for Galileo in 1610, after Galileo had published his findings of the [[Galilean moons|Jovian moons]], and in 1611 he published his own detailed observations of those same satellites. He made those observations, accurate to within one-tenth of a degree, once he acquired a suitable telescope.<ref name=rice/>