The famous scientist known for his laws of planetary motion is Johannes Kepler. Active during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Kepler formulated three fundamental laws that describe the motion of planets around the sun. These laws revolutionized astronomy and provided a clearer understanding of orbital mechanics, demonstrating that planets move in elliptical orbits rather than circular ones. His work built upon the earlier observations of Tycho Brahe and significantly advanced the heliocentric model proposed by Copernicus. Kepler's contributions laid essential groundwork for Isaac Newton’s later theories of gravity and physics.