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Tycho Brahe | |
All of the instruments Tycho Brahe used to observe the sky were made in his own workshop. He also printed all of his books on his own presses. |
Tycho Brahe was born in 1546 in Denmark. He was born to a noble family. Brahe had a brother who grew up to serve in the government. He also had a sister that became a scientist. Tycho Brahe was a favorite of the king of Denmark, King Fredrik II. King Fredrik gave him an island to live on. While living on this island, Brahe built a castle and an observatory. Brahe made many observations of the stars. His work supported the idea that the Earth revolved around the Sun. This idea had been developed earlier by Copernicus. Brahe used a compass and a sextant to make his observations. He invented many instruments that helped him with his work. These instruments were copied and improved by other astronomers. In 1600, Brahe hired Johannes Kepler to work with him. After Brahe's death, Kepler used Brahe's work to write his own theory about the motion of the planets.
Tycho Brahe had a wife and eight children. He died in 1601. His final words were, "May I not seemed to have lived in vain."
A Question What astronomer did Brahe hire to work with him in 1600?
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