In this engaging discussion, Ole Grell, an Emeritus Professor in Early Modern History, Adam Mosley, an Associate Professor at Swansea University, and Emma Perkins, an Affiliate Scholar at Cambridge, explore the life of Tycho Brahe. They delve into his revolutionary discovery of a new star, the impact of astrology on royal societies, and his innovative astronomical instruments. The conversation also highlights the political and religious influences of Brahe's time and the legacy of his meticulous research, culminating in his collaboration with Johannes Kepler.
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insights INSIGHT
Ptolemaic System Origins
The Ptolemaic system, placing Earth at the center of the universe, originated with Ptolemy but has Aristotelian roots.
It combined philosophical ideas with mathematical models of astronomy.
insights INSIGHT
Copernican System
Copernicus's heliocentric system, with the Sun at the center, was presented in 1543 but faced theological and physical objections.
It was initially adopted as a mathematical model due to its accuracy in predicting planetary positions.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The New Star of 1572
Tycho Brahe observed a new star in 1572, challenging Aristotle's idea of unchanging heavens.
Using instruments like the radius, he determined the star's supralunar location, influencing his dedication to astronomy.
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Mysterium Cosmographicum, published in 1596, is Johannes Kepler's first major work. It presents a cosmological theory based on the Copernican heliocentric system, where the five Platonic solids are used to explain the structure of the universe. Kepler believed this geometric arrangement reflected God's design. The book was groundbreaking in its attempt to provide a physical explanation for celestial phenomena, though its specific model was later refined by Kepler himself.
De Revolutionibus
Heribert Nobis
Diese kritische Edition von 'De Revolutionibus Libri Sex' enthält den Originaltext von Nicolaus Copernicus sowie alle früheren gedruckten Ausgaben. Sie bietet eine umfassende wissenschaftliche Analyse des Werks, das die heliozentrische Theorie des Universums revolutionierte. Die Herausgeber Heribert Nobis und Bernhard Sticker haben sich bemüht, die historische Genauigkeit und wissenschaftliche Bedeutung des Werks zu bewahren.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the pioneering Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546 – 1601) whose charts offered an unprecedented level of accuracy.
In 1572 Brahe's observations of a new star challenged the idea, inherited from Aristotle, that the heavens were unchanging. He went on to create his own observatory complex on the Danish island of Hven, and there, working before the invention of the telescope, he developed innovative instruments and gathered a team of assistants, taking a highly systematic approach to observation. A second, smaller source of renown was his metal prosthetic nose, which he needed after a serious injury sustained in a duel.
The image above shows Brahe aged 40, from the Atlas Major by Johann Blaeu.
With
Ole Grell
Emeritus Professor in Early Modern History at the Open University
Adam Mosley
Associate Professor of History at Swansea University
and
Emma Perkins
Affiliate Scholar in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge.
In Our Time 
