Tycho Brahe
Tycho Brahe (14 December 1546 — 24 October 1601) was an astronomer from Denmark.[1] He observed the night sky before the invention of the telescope. With money from the King of Denmark he built a large observatory called Uraniborg on the island of Hven in Denmark.
Tycho Brahe | |
|---|---|
| File:Tycho Brahe.JPG Brahe wearing the Order of the Elephant | |
| Born | Tyge Ottesen Brahe 14 December 1546 |
| Died | 24 October 1601 (aged 54) |
| Nationality | Danish |
| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen Leipzig University University of Rostock |
| Occupation | Nobleman, astronomer, writer |
| Known for | Tychonic system Rudolphine Tables |
| Spouse(s) | Kirsten Barbara Jørgensdatter |
| Children | 8 |
| Parent(s) | Otte Brahe Beate Clausdatter Bille |
| Signature | |
| File:Tycho Brahe Signature.svg | |
He discovered that the universe outside the Solar System could change when he studied a supernova and a comet. Johannes Kepler was his assistant. Tycho made very careful observations of the planets. When Tycho died in 1601, Kepler continued Tycho's work.
Tycho was not a modern scientist. He believed in astrology, and his astronomy was a strange mixture of scientific observation and religious belief. Although he rejected the Ptolemaic system, he also rejected the Copernican system.[2][3] He developed a geocentric theory that imagined the Sun and Moon orbited the Earth, but the other planets orbited the Sun.
Unlike most astronomers of his time, he did not believe in the unchanging celestial realm or spheres. Tycho's Nova, now called SN 1572, proved that changes did take place. Also, he worked out that comets were real celestial objects, and that their orbits were different from those of the planets.
Tycho Brahe Media
- Jacques de Gheyn Ii - Portrait of Tycho Brahe, astronomer (without a hat) - Google Art Project.jpg
Jacques de Gheyn: Tycho Brahe framed by the family shields of his noble ancestors, 1586.
- Tycho Brahe - Stellarum octavi orbis inerrantium accurata restitutio, 1598. Author's portrait (Tycho Brahe portrait, cropped).jpg
Tycho Brahe: Stellarum octavi orbis inerrantium accurata restitutio, 1598. Author's portrait in this book.
- Tycho Brahe - Dedication to Josephus Scaliger of Astronomiae instauratae mechanica, 1598 (signature, cropped).jpg
Signature on a book dedication to Josephus Scaliger, around 1598
- Tycho Cas SN1572.jpg
Star map of the constellation Cassiopeia showing the position of the Supernova of 1572. The labeled stars are:* * A caput Caßiopeæ (ζ Cas) * B pectus Schedir. (α Cas)*
- Brahe-6.jpg
The title page to De nova stella, in a facsimile reprint of the original 1573 edition, 1901
- Brahe notebook.jpg
Brahe's notebook with his observations of the 1577 comet
- Astronomiae Instauratae Progymnasmata.jpg
The frontispiece of the 1610 edition of Astronomiae Instauratae Progymnasmata
- Titelblad till bok om astronomi av Tycho Brahe, 1648 - Skoklosters slott - 99889.tif
The title page of Astronomiae Instauratae, 1648 edition
- Fotothek df tg 0005915 Astronomie ^ Messinstrument.jpg
Brahe's illustration of his sextant, from his star catalogue Astronomiae instauratae mechanica, 1602
- Tychonian system.svg
The Tychonic system, surrounded by a sphere of fixed stars. The Moon and the Sun are shown orbiting the Earth, and five planets orbit the Sun.
Related pages
References
Other websites
- Tycho Brahe – Accomplishments, Biography, & Facts. Encyclopædia Britannica