Kepler's Laws
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Elliptical orbits, sun at one
focus. 1605
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Equal areas in equal times, by line joining
planet and sun. 1604
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Times squared/distance cubed = constant.
1619
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Pythagorean
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earlier version: 1595: Cosmographicum Mysterium,
tried to nest all the planets in Platonic solids.
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simply a number pattern! No dynamic
underpinning.
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Question: Why that pattern, or, for that matter,
the other laws?
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Calculate the constant for the Solar system
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Calculate the constant for the Earth system
Altitude of a synchronous satellite?
Altitude of Space Shuttle orbiting every
90 minutes?