Monthly Archives: February 2016

Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 9, 2016 by paxtonastronomy

Nicolaus Copernicus Birth: February 19, 1473 Death: May 24, 1543 1492 – Columbus sails the ocean blue and lands in the Americas, only to take over and wipe out almost the entire Native population. While it was an exciting “discovery” for Spain, it meant devastating consequences for others.  1513 – Machiavelli writes The Prince, a […] Continue reading →

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Copernicus and the Luthers

Posted on February 9, 2016 by astr2110geoffren

Nicolaus Copernicus had the fortune to be born on February 19, 1473 and the misfortune to die on May 24, 1543. This man laid the groundwork for future astronomers who actually did things that we study as more than just history. Before Copernicus, the geocentric model of the universe was the prevailing theory about the universe. […] Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 8, 2016 by seanmcsolsys

Johannes Kepler Birth December 27, 1571 Death November 15, 1630 The Emperor Rudolph in Prague was in political trouble with his brother Matthias in 1611. Rudolph was forced to give up his position as King of Bohemia. Kepler’s advice was sought out by both brothers. He had been part of Rudolph’s court and Matthias’ rise […] Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context – Newton

Posted on February 8, 2016 by podolakvandysolarsystem

Q#2 Isaac Newton (Born January 4, 1643 Died March 31, 1727)  was a mathematician, physicist, and contributed incredibly to humanity’s scientific knowledge. He created calculus, and formulated the laws of motion, the law of cooling, and universal gravitation. Newton constructed the first reflecting telescope. He observed how a prism splits white light into the visible spectrum […] Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 8, 2016 by imanig625

Johannes Kepler (December 27, 1571- November 15, 1630) discovered the three laws of planetary motion, which Isaac Newton used to create his own set of laws. Kepler also used his discoveries to adjust Copernicus’s vision of the universe, making it so that the Sun had a more active role in causing the planet’s orbits Other Things… Continue reading →

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Creative Title For HW6

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Alex Pratte

In 1609 Galileo, improved on the current design of the telescope and used it to make many astronomical discoveries including sunspots, the phases of Venus, and the four largest moons of Jupiter. He was also a supporter of the Copernican theory that the earth revolved around the sun. This eventually led to him to being […] Continue reading →

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A Star Is Born

Posted on February 8, 2016 by impossibleensign

For this assignment I chose to focus on Tycho Brahe: Tycho Brahe (14DEC1546-24OCT1601) is arguably most important to astronomy (and physics) because of his observation of a supernova (SN 1572– which he called a “new star”). Before this observation people still clung to the Aristotelian view of the universe (and physics), Aristotle’s influence in other fields such […] Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 8, 2016 by clharrell

Galileo Galilei (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642) is one of the most recognizable figures in astronomical history. He is credited with numerous discoveries and inventions that helped advance our understanding of the solar system and the universe beyond. With his invention of the telescope, Galileo championed a new era of astronomical discoveries. Thanks to […] Continue reading →

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Tycho Brahe

Posted on February 8, 2016 by OscarBen

Tycho Brahe has recently been described as “the first competent mind in modern astronomy to feel ardently the passion for exact empirical facts” by Edwin Burtt in The Metaphysical Foundations of Modern Physical Science; a Historical and Critical Essay (1925). He is the best naked-eye observer of all time, and was able to observe a supernova… More Tycho Brahe Continue reading →

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Tycho Brahe

Posted on February 8, 2016 by OscarBen

Tycho Brahe has recently been described as “the first competent mind in modern astronomy to feel ardently the passion for exact empirical facts” by Edwin Burtt in The Metaphysical Foundations of Modern Physical Science; a Historical and Critical Essay (1925). He is the best naked-eye observer of all time, and was able to observe a supernova… More Tycho Brahe Continue reading →

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