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Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe observed the Sun, Moon, and planets at his island observatory near Copenhagen and later in Germany. Based on the data compiled by Brahe, his German assistant, Johannes Kepler, formulated the laws of planetary motion, stating that the planets revolve around the Sun, not in circular orbits with uniform motion but in elliptical orbits at varying speeds, and that their relative distances from the Sun can be determined from the observed periods of revolution.
Brahe made precise, comprehensive astronomical measurements of the solar system and more than 700 stars. The data Brahe accumulated was superior to all other astronomical measurements made until the invention of the telescope in the early 17th century. In 1572 he discovered a supernova in the constellation Cassiopeia. After Brahe had spent some time traveling and lecturing, Frederick II, king of Denmark and Norway, offered to provide Brahe with funds to construct and equip an astronomical observatory on the island of Hven (now Ven). Brahe accepted the proposal, and in 1576 construction began on the castle of Uranienborg ("fortress of the heavens"), where for 20 years the astronomer pursued his observations.
How cool would that be!!
Brahe never fully accepted the Copernican theory of the universe and sought a compromise by combining it with the old Ptolemaic system (see Copernican System; Ptolemaic System). In Brahe's system, the five known planets were supposed to revolve around the sun, which, with the planets, circled the earth each year. The sphere of the stars revolved around the immobile earth once a day.
Although Brahe's theory of planetary motion was flawed, the data he accumulated during his life played a crucial role in developing the correct description of planetary motion. Johannes Kepler, who was Brahe's assistant from 1600 until Brahe's death in 1601, used Brahe's data to help him formulate his three laws of planetary motion.
So although Brahe was an important step, it was Kepler that really discovered how the planets all moved.
When and where was he born? |