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Kepler’s Major Works

YearBookSubjectContribution
1596Mysterium
Cosmographicum
Use of the 5 perfect solids
to explain the solar system.
Illustrates 'old' side of Kepler. Since
this idea failed it laid groundwork for
his New Astronomy.
1602 De fundamentia
Astrologise Certioribus
AstrologyShows Kepler's views on astrology.
He appears to accept judicial but not
personal astrology.
1604Astronomiae pars
Optica
OpticsPresents a new theory of vision and an
approximation to the laws of refraction.
1609Astronomia NovaSolar System;
physical astronomy
Kepler's first law, the planetary orbit of
Mars is an ellipse, and second law, the radius
vector sweeps out equal areas in equal times.
Introduced idea of 'force' into solar system.
1611DioptriceTheory of TelescopeTheory of lenses and refraction.
1615Nove Stereometric
Doliorum
MathematicsApproached the Concepts of infinitesimal
calculus.
1619Harmonice MundiHarmony of the WorldShows Kepler's harmonic thought. Kepler's
third law
1621Epitome Astronomiae
Copernicanae
Physical AstronomyExtended Kepler's three laws to the entire
solar system.
1627 Rudolphine TablesAstronomyProvided most accurate astronomical tables
available. Showed superiority of the Keplerian system based on Tycho's data. Vehicle of
acceptance of the New Astronomy.