Kephu
a Karen Vampire. (See Vampire.) Kepler, John-1571-1630: A great mathematician and astrologer. He was born at Weil in Würtemburg and educated at a monastic school at Maulbrunn and afterwards at the university of Tübingen, where he studied philosophy, mathematics, theology and astronomy. In 1593 he became professor of mathematics and morals at Gratz in Styria, where he also continued his astrological studies. He had an unhappy home life, and was somewhat persecuted for his doctrines. In 1626 were printed the famous Rodolphine tables, which he had prepared along with Tycho de Brahe, the astronomer. He died at Ratisbon. The laws of the courses of the planets, deduced by Kepler from observations made by Tycho, and known as The Three Laws of Kepler, became the foundation of Newton's discoveries, as well as the whole modern theory of the planets. His services in the cause of astronomy have placed him high amongst the distinguished men of science, and in 1808 a monument was erected to his memory at Ratisbon. His most important work is his Astronomia nova, seu Physica Coelestis tradita Commentariis de Motibus Stellae Martis (1609) which is still regarded as a classic by astronomers.