TYCHO BRAHE

BACKGROUND

Nationality: Danish
Religion: Lutheran
Born On: 14 December 1546
Born In: Knutstorp Castle, Scania, Denmark, Denmark–Norway
Died On: 24 October 1601 AD
Place Of Death: Prague, Holy Roman Empire
Father: Otte Brahe
Mother: Beate Bille

Background Continued...

Siblings: Kirstine Brahe, Sophia Brahe
Spouse: Kirsten Jørgensdatter
Children: Kirsten Barbara Jørgensdatter
Education: University of Copenhagen, University of Rostock
Works & Achievements: He was known for his astronomical and planetary observations and his lunar theory.

The Early Life

He was the nephew of Jorges Brahe, a sailor who gave his life in an effort to save the life of King Fredrik II of Denmark. Tycho Brahe benefited greatly from King Fredrik's generous support.

Inspiration

He made astronomy his life's work because he was so impressed when, as a boy, he saw an eclipse of the Sun take place at exactly the time it was predicted. Tycho's life's work in astronomy consisted of measuring the positions of the stars, planets, Moon, and Sun, every night and day possible, and carefully recording these measurements, year after year.

Other Interest

He was passionate about math. In fact he even was involved in a sword duel with another man to end an argument as to whom was the greatest Danish mathematician.

Major Contribution

He observed the comet of 1577, determined that it was farther away than the moon and not an atmospheric phenomenon. He also observed the supernova which Inspired him to write "De Nova Stella"

The Great Comet of 1577

The Great Comet of 1577 was a comet that passed close to Earth. It was viewed by people all over Europe. The huge comet appeared whose tail spread in a great arc across the sky. People, including Tycho, made measurements of its changing positions.

Island Hven

Brahe received an island called Hven from the king; King Fredrik's II. He turned this island into his own little country. He built a castle on Hven and named it Uraniborg after Urania, the goddess of the sky. He also built an observatory on the island.

Life at an End

it has long been thought that Tycho died because of a complication to his bladder, when he did not "go" out of politeness at a dinner in Prage 1601, eleven days before his death. However, more recent studies started 1996 from opening the grave of Tycho and analysing his hair, have showed that it is very likely that Tycho Brahe in fact died from Mercury poisoning.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/tycho-brahe-533.php
• http://www.math.wichita.edu/history/men/brahe.html
• http://www.nada.kth.se/~fred/tycho/death.html
• http://chandra.harvard.edu/edu/formal/icecore/The_Astronomers_Tycho_Brahe_a...
• http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2/brahe.html