The Universe Was Created 6,988 Years Ago Today, According To Kepler (VIDEO)

History - On this day in 4977 B.C., the universe is created, according to German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler, considered a founder of modern science. Kepler is best known for his theories explaining the motion of planets.

Kepler was born on December 27, 1571, in Weil der Stadt, Germany. As a university student, he studied the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus' theories of planetary ordering. Copernicus (1473-1543) believed that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the solar system, a theory that contradicted the prevailing view of the era that the sun revolved around the earth.

In 1600, Kepler went to Prague to work for Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, the imperial mathematician to Rudolf II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Kepler's main project was to investigate the orbit of Mars. When Brahe died the following year, Kepler took over his job and inherited Brahe's extensive collection of astronomy data, which had been painstakingly observed by the naked eye.

For more history and the full story, click here for more from History.

WATCH:

Also on this day in history:

AMERICAN REVOLUTION - Parliament passes the Tea Act, 1773

WORLD - South Africa holds first multiracial elections, 1994

SPORTS - Rocky Marciano retires as world heavyweight champion, 1956

Comments

[Front Row Joe]

11:26 AM on 04/29/2011

Happy New Year!

Kepler, like MANY scientists from his time were often forced into promoting the bible first and foremost. His mother was accused of witchcraft. He did witness the 1604 supernova, an event that, at the time he was seeing it, happened more than 5,000 years in the past.
He also thought that our inner planet was made of a gigantic box that held the round world together.

[JackTheSkipper]

08:58 PM on 04/27/2011

Unfortunately these guys had to make up these false claims in those days to keep the church and their employers (emperors/kings/queens) happy. If they went against the church's teachings based on the bible, their projects/expeditions wouldn't be funded and probably subjected to the house arrest like it had happened to Galileo for saying the Earth rotates around the Sun.

This co-mingling of the state and church posed a great danger to the advancement the human civilizations. The founding fathers of the USA saw this threat and made sure the constitution never allows the church to have any part in the state. Of course they allowed phrases like "In God We Trust" to appease the religious zealots in the colony to form a perfect union. If we invented the internet or put the first man on the moon, we owe our success to our forefathers.

[lamii54xx]

05:47 PM on 04/27/2011

I'm pretty sure the universe is a little older than 6,988 years....maybe off by a few millions?

[Jonathan Bristow]

11:39 PM on 04/27/2011

try billions

[nicenissey]

11:10 PM on 04/28/2011

Is that in the Bible, you heathen science-worshipper?

FF!

[Rana Zahid Ali]

03:20 PM on 04/27/2011

it is amazing news

[The Platzner Post]

03:04 PM on 04/27/2011

Watch the video first before commenting!!!

[Kalel]

02:44 PM on 04/27/2011

Happy kinda Birthday Universe!

[Stephen G Ford]

02:37 PM on 04/27/2011

Well... that settles THAT then doesn't it! *SMIRK*

[EminentFate4L]

02:26 PM on 04/27/2011

I have a feeling that somewhere Sarah Palin is celebrating the 6,988 birth of the universe.