kepler
kepler Lexical Profile
• noun
Johannes Kepler (1571–1630), a German astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer who is best known for discovering the three major laws of planetary motion.
"Kepler fundamentally changed our understanding of the solar system by proving that planets move in elliptical orbits rather than perfect circles."
A retired space telescope launched by NASA in 2009, designed to discover Earth-size planets orbiting other stars in the Milky Way.
"Before its mission concluded in 2018, Kepler discovered thousands of exoplanets in our galaxy."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently used attributively in astronomy and physics contexts, most notably in 'Kepler's laws' of planetary motion.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the German surname 'Kepler' (or 'Käppler'), originally an occupational name for a maker of caps or hoods, from the Middle High German 'kappe' (cap). It is most famously associated with the 17th-century astronomer Johannes Kepler.