How did Johannes Kepler support Nicolaus Copernicus's Sun-centered model?

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Johannes Kepler was a dedicated supporter of Nicolaus Copernicus and his heliocentric model, which placed the Sun at the center of the solar system. While Copernicus correctly identified the Sun-centered nature of the system, his model relied on circular orbits and complex epicycles to account for planetary motion, which did not perfectly match observational data.123

Kepler supported and advanced the Copernican system by transforming it into a dynamic, physically grounded universe. By analyzing the highly accurate observational records of Tycho Brahe, Kepler discovered that planets do not move in perfect circles but in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus.412

Through his three laws of planetary motion, Kepler provided the mathematical precision that the original Copernican model lacked. His work replaced the need for arbitrary epicycles and established that the Sun actively influences planetary motion, effectively providing the physical foundation that turned the heliocentric theory into a robust scientific reality.412