Solar system. Historical artwork by the German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler (1571-1630). It represents our solar system, which is surr

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Solar system. Historical artwork by the German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler (1571-1630). It represents our solar system, which is surrounded by a pattern of stars. It is meant to illustrate the problem with the theory that existed at the time that our uniform starry universe is infinite, as wherever you look you should be able to see a star. However, this is not the case and there are vast areas devoid of light in the night sky, a paradox that troubled astronomers for over one hundred years. Published in Kepler's Epitome of Copernican Astronomy in 1627.

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Size: 3307px × 5515px
Photo credit: © ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1600s, 1627, 17th, artwork, astronomiae, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, black--white, century, copernican, diagram, drawing, endless, epitome, epitomes, finite, guide, historical, history, illustration, infinite, infinity, johannes, kepler, latin, monochrome, mundus, paradox, paradoxical, pattern, picture, science, sketch, solar, space, star, stars, sun, system, uniform, uniformity, universe, writing