How did Michael Maestlin influence Johannes Kepler's interest in astronomy?

Michael Maestlin, a mathematics professor at the University of Tübingen, played a pivotal role in shaping Johannes Kepler’s transition from theology to astronomy.12

Maestlin was one of the few scholars in the late 16th century who privately supported the Copernican theory, which posited that Earth and the other planets revolve around the Sun. His influence on Kepler included:12

• Direct Mentorship: Maestlin tutored Kepler in the complex details of Nicolaus Copernicus’s work.12
• Access to Resources: He provided Kepler with his own heavily annotated copy of Copernicus’s seminal 1543 text, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.2
• Encouragement: By sharing his expertise and private convictions, Maestlin encouraged Kepler’s interest, ultimately inspiring him to seek a rigorous demonstration of the Copernican system as a reflection of divine planning.12

Through this guidance, Kepler came to view the study of the stars as a way to understand the divine architecture of the universe.2