Tycho Brahe

Full Name: Tyge Ottesen Brahe
Profession: Astronomer

Nationality:

Biography: Known in his lifetime as an astronomer and alchemist, and for his accurate and comprehensive astronomical and planetary observations.

In 1572 he made his reputation after observing a new star in the Cassiopeia constellation, providing evidence that the heavens beyond were not fixed as Aristotelian doctrine maintained. In 1776 Danish King Frederick II granted him the island of Hven to build an observatory and it became a center of scientific enquiry and where Tyche designed and built a number of new and improved instruments.

In 1597, after falling out of favour with Danish King Christian IV, Brahe moved to Prague where in his last years he trained his successor and heir Johannes Kepler.

Has been described more recently as the first competent mind in modern astronomy to feel ardently the passion for exact empirical facts.

Born: December 14, 1546
Birthplace: Knudstrup, Denmark
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Died: October 24, 1601 (aged 54)