--- title: Tycho Brahe author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2023-10-16 --- # Tycho Brahe _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) was a Danish nobleman who made the most significant contribution to our knowledge of astronomy before the telescope arrived. He discovered a supernova, observed the elliptical interplanetary orbit of a comet, updated the accuracy of the calendar, and proposed a whole new theory of the positions of the heavenly bodies in the night sky. ### Early Life Tyge Brahe was born on 14 December 1546 in Skåne (aka Scania, modern Sweden), which was then ruled by the Danish Crown. He is today better known by his Latinized name Tycho Brahe, most often simply as Tycho. He was born into a noble family with connections to the royal family of Sweden. Tycho attended the University of Copenhagen, where he studied [law](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/law/) before moving to Germany, where he continued his studies at the universities of Wittenberg, Leipzig, and Rostock, amongst others. He got himself into a duel with a fellow student in Germany, and although he survived the encounter, most of his nose did not. For the rest of his life, Tycho wore an artificial nose made of [metal](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/metal/) – brass for everyday use but with a more resplendent version made of [silver](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silver/) coming out on special occasions. ### Tycho's Supernova Tycho first became interested in astronomy when he observed the total eclipse on 25 August 1560. His first published work of note was *De Nova Stella* (1573). The book was on the subject of the new star supernova in the Cassiopeia constellation (much brighter than any other star in that group, brighter even than [Venus](https://www.worldhistory.org/venus/)), which he was the first to observe and study in detail on 11 November 1572. The supernova, one of only a handful in history which could be seen both at night and during the day with the naked eye, was clearly visible for at least five months. The remnants of what is really the [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) throes of a star, the supernova can still be seen using an X-ray telescope and has been named Tycho's Supernova. Tycho was able to measure the proximity or parallax of this new star in relation to Earth by measuring it at different times (since the stars rotate in the night sky, Tycho was effectively measuring two angles of a triangle with himself at one point and the star at another). By calculating its distance from Earth, he demonstrated that the star was much further away than the Moon, a concept that shook the prevailing view of the cosmos. Even more significantly, the facts that the star had appeared at all, was a heavenly body of some sort, and had nothing to do with Earth's atmosphere all meant that the universe was a changing entity, a crushing blow to the long-held belief that the universe was perfect and unchanging. [ ![Tycho's Supernova](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/18025.png?v=1741851604-1697133943) Tycho's Supernova Smithsonian Institution (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/18025/tychos-supernova/ "Tycho's Supernova")### Uraniborg As a reward for his astronomy work, King [Frederick II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Frederick_II/) of Denmark and Norway (r. 1559-1588) gave the astronomer his own island, Hven, in 1576. Hven, today called Ven and located in the Öresund Strait between Sweden and Denmark, was perfect for Tycho since here he could build his own observatory, helped with generous funding from the Danish Crown. Tycho called his observatory Uraniborg, which was named after Urania, the [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [muse](https://www.worldhistory.org/muse/) of astronomy, and which translates as "the fortress of Urania". The complex was indeed built like a fortress, with the observatory set in the centre of symmetrical gardens, which were enclosed on all sides behind high walls with entrances only at each of the corners. Uraniborg permitted Tycho to make systematic observations of the night skies, which he made using instruments he himself had designed and built, including the new astronomical sextant. Perhaps the most impressive of these instruments was a massive mural quadrant on the west [wall](https://www.worldhistory.org/wall/) of his observatory. Tycho later created an illustrated book on all the astronomical instruments in his observatory, his *Instruments for the Restoration of Astronomy*, published in 1598. The Jesuit missionary Ferdinand Verbiest (1623-1688) famously used this book to build instruments for the imperial observatory in Beijing in the 1670s. The main building of Uraniborg was an extravagant structure bristling with platforms, towers, and spires, a mix of fantasy that would not have looked out of place in *Arabian Nights* or at [Xanadu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Xanadu/). There was a workshop dedicated to the manufacturing of scientific instruments. It had its own paper mill and printing press to publish Tycho's research. There was also a laboratory down in the basement where Tycho indulged his other great interest: [alchemy](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alchemy/). [ ![Plan of Uraniborg](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/18027.png?v=1715729163-1697135280) Plan of Uraniborg Unknown Artist (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/18027/plan-of-uraniborg/ "Plan of Uraniborg")Uraniborg became a tourist attraction in itself, and as Tycho's reputation increased, so did the social level of the visitors. The future [James I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/James_I_of_England/) (r. 1603-1625) visited while on a trip to secure his bride Anne of Denmark (b. 1574), the daughter of Frederick II. Tycho was regularly assisted in his work at Uraniborg by his wife Kirstine (m. 1573) and his sister Sophie (1559-1643). He was also assisted by his labourers, who were treated little better than medieval serfs. Tycho expected the local peasantry to work on his estate for two days each week. When Tycho left Uraniborg in 1597, the observatory fell into decay. ### Achievements & the Tychonic Model Tycho's extensive observations allowed him to catalogue the positions of the stars and planets more accurately than had ever been done before. He shared this data with only a select few since he did not want a rival to present theories he was himself only just formulating. Some data was released for the public good. He took countless observations of the Sun and recalculated the true length of the year, a study that resulted in a wholesale change to the calendar to make it more accurate in 1582 (a reform that replaced the old Julian calendar with the Gregorian calendar). Tycho completed a star catalogue, which positioned over 800 stars. This was the first new catalogue since that produced by [Ptolemy](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Ptolemy/) (c. 100 to c. 170 CE). In 1603, Tycho's catalogue was made into an [atlas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Atlas/) of the stars by Johann Bayer (1572-1625) Back in 1577, Tycho's detailed observation of the comet sighted that year showed that it moved in an orbit that passed between the planets. Further evidence of this phenomenon came with observation of the 1580 and 1585 comets. This was a blow to models of the universe which had everything moving around the Earth. The Greek natural philosopher [Aristotle](https://www.worldhistory.org/aristotle/) (384-322 BCE) had claimed that comets were a phenomenon of Earth's atmosphere, but Tycho's research now disproved this long-held belief. The comets also seemed to follow an elliptical orbit, yet another blow to the entrenched belief that all heavenly bodies moved in perfect circles. These newly discovered facts and his previous work on the new supernova – clear evidence that there was change when Aristotle had claimed the cosmos was eternally stable – meant that the old Aristotelian view of the universe began to crumble. For some historians, this was the true beginning of the [Scientific Revolution](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scientific_Revolution/), when observation began to test long-held and obviously incorrect theories. [ ![Uraniborg Observatory](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/18026.png?v=1764488891-1697134652) Uraniborg Observatory bruun-rasmussen.dk (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/18026/uraniborg-observatory/ "Uraniborg Observatory")These discoveries were all very important in the longer-term view of the progression of [science](https://www.worldhistory.org/science/), but Tycho's main contribution to world knowledge at the time was something else, here summarised by the historian W. E. Burns: > Tycho's greatest contribution to astronomical theory was the Tychonic model of the solar system, based on a stationary Earth; in this system, the Moon and Sun orbit the Earth and the other planets orbit the Sun. (42) Tycho, therefore, overturned the alternative two models suggested by Ptolemy (c. 100 to c. 170 CE) and [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Nicolaus_Copernicus/) (1473-1543 CE). The Tychonic system helped do away with Ptolemy's wholly geocentric model and became a sort of compromised rival to [Copernicus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Nicolaus_Copernicus/)' fully heliocentric model. Tycho published his theory (which turned out to be wrong, of course) in his *Of More Recent Phenomena of the Ethereal World*, published in 1588. Like just about every other scientist in this period, Tycho got into a heated dispute with a fellow thinker over who had thought of what first. In Tycho's case, his enemy was the German astronomer Nicolaus Reimers Bär (1551-1600), also known as Ursus (the Bear). Tycho accused Ursus of copying his theory of the cosmos, done when he visited Uraniborg. Tycho also claimed it was he and not Ursus who "invented the mathematical technique of prosthaphaeresis, which was important for making lengthy calculations before the invention of logarithms" (Wootton, 94). [ ![The Scientific Revolution (c. 1500–1700)](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/18023.png?v=1775795736-1775796026) The Scientific Revolution (c. 1500–1700) Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/18023/the-scientific-revolution--c-1500-1700/ "The Scientific Revolution (c. 1500–1700)")### Prague & Final Years Tycho's aristocratic status had helped him enormously in his chosen career, but it turned out to be a severe handicap from 1596 when King Christian IV of Denmark (r. 1588-1648) came of age and ruled without his regent. The young monarch was keen to balance his books and take more careful control of where royal money was spent. Even worse for Tycho, the king wanted to reduce the power of certain noble families, and so the astronomer fell out of favour. Obliged to leave Uraniborg in 1597, Tycho hopped about various spots in Germany for two years and finally ended up in Prague, then the capital of the [Holy Roman Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Holy_Roman_Empire/). Unfortunately, his old enemy Ursus was already well entrenched in the Bohemian [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) and held the prestigious position of court mathematician. Ursus did his best to trash Tycho's reputation, but the Dane managed to gain favour with Rudolf II, Holy [Roman Emperor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Emperor/) (r. 1576-1612), and so was able to steal Ursus' position. Tycho was fortunate to have a rare talent as his assistant in Prague, one [Johannes Kepler](https://www.worldhistory.org/Johannes_Kepler/) (1571-1630), who went on to become one of the most important figures of the Scientific Revolution. Tycho was keen to extend his star catalogue to include more southern stars, and to that end, he made contact with both the Venetians and Tuscans in the hope that one of them would come up with the funds for a new observatory in [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/). Neither state responded favourably. Tycho had a similar lack of success with another Italian, the astronomer [Galileo Galilei](https://www.worldhistory.org/Galileo_Galilei/) (1564-1642), whom he wrote to twice to propose a collaboration but each time was ignored. [Galileo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Galileo_Galilei/) had no time for theoretical models of the universe and preferred pure observation; around 1608, Galileo would perfect the new invention of the telescope and make his own impressive catalogue of discoveries. On 24 October 1601, Brahe died in Prague. Kepler succeeded Tycho, and crucially, he inherited his extensive and highly accurate observations of the movements of the heavenly bodies. Kepler put this data to good use, especially Tycho's notes on the movement of [Mars](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mars/), and formed his celebrated three laws of planetary motion. Tycho's belief that measurements must be continuously taken to continuously improve accuracy became one of the founding principles of modern science, and it is why many have called Tycho "the true founder of the new astronomy" (Wootton, 456) and claim that astronomy became the first modern science. Above all, Tycho demonstrated that theories were not more valuable simply because they had been believed for a long time. Further, he demonstrated that believing one wrong theory often led to believing other wrong theories, creating catastrophic chains of error. In observing what was to be seen, not what he hoped to see, Tycho was one of the first of what we would today call a proper scientist, that is, someone who investigates a subject without preconceived ideas of what those investigations might show to be true, an investigator who reconciles theory, phenomena, and data to increase our knowledge of the world around us. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Burns, William E. *The Scientific Revolution in Global Perspective.* Oxford University Press, 2015.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199989338/) - [Burns, William E. *The Scientific Revolution.* ABC-CLIO, 2001.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0874368758/) - [Bynum, William F. & Browne, Janet & Porter, Roy. *Dictionary of the History of Science .* Princeton University Press, 1982.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0691082871/) - [Heilbron, John. *Galileo.* Oxford University Press, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199583528/) - [Henry, John. *The Scientific Revolution and the Origins of Modern Science .* Red Globe Press, 2008.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0230574386/) - [Jardine, Lisa. *Ingenious Pursuits.* Anchor, 2000.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0385720017/) - [Rundle, D. (ed). *The Hutchinson Encyclopedia of the Renaissance.* Helicon, 2023.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1859863329/) - [Wootton, David. *The Invention of Science.* Harper, 2015.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/006175952X/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **1546 CE - 1601 CE**: Life of the Danish astronomer [Tycho Brahe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/). - **14 Dec 1546 CE**: The astronomer [Tycho Brahe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/) is born in Skåne (Scania). - **11 Nov 1572 CE**: [Tycho Brahe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/) first observes the new star or supernova in the Cassiopeia constellation. - **1573 CE**: [Tycho Brahe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/) publishes his research on the 1572 supernova in his De Nova Stella (1573). - **1576 CE**: The Danish astronomer [Tycho Brahe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/) builds his Uraniborg observatory on the island of Hven (Ven). - **1588 CE**: The Danish astonomer [Tycho Brahe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/) publishes his Tychonic model of the comsos in his book Of More Recent Phenomena of the Ethereal World. - **1597 CE**: The Danish astronomer [Tycho Brahe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/) is obliged to leave his observatory Uraniborg. - **1598 CE**: The Danish astronomer [Tycho Brahe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/) publishes his Instruments for the Restoration of Astronomy. - **1599 CE**: [Tycho Brahe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/) is appointed the court mathematician to the Holy [Roman Emperor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Emperor/) in Prague. - **24 Oct 1601 CE**: The Danish astronomer [Tycho Brahe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/) dies in Prague. ## Questions & Answers ### What was Tycho Brahe most famous for? Tycho Brahe was a Danish astronomer most famous for charting the stars more accurately than ever before, first observing comets and a supernova, and forming a theory of the cosmos, which was a compromise between the models proposed by Ptolemy and Copernicus. ### Was the Tychonic system of the cosmos correct? The Tychonic system of the cosmos proposed by Tycho Brahe was not correct since he believed the Sun orbited around the Earth (although he was correct that the other planets orbit the Sun) ### What happened to Tycho Brahe's nose? The astronomer Tycho Brahe lost his nose in a duel in Germany in his youth. He then wore an artificial nose made of metal. ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2023, October 16). Tycho Brahe. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho\_Brahe/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Tycho Brahe." *World History Encyclopedia*, October 16, 2023. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho\_Brahe/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Tycho Brahe." *World History Encyclopedia*, 16 Oct 2023, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho\_Brahe/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tycho_Brahe/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 16 October 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.