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Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), Danish astronomer. After becoming interested in astronomy as a student in Copenhagen, Tycho Brahe realized the difficulty of making accurate measurements of celestial bodies with the instruments of the day. His designs for new methods and devices won him great fame. He was granted an estate on the island of Hven to conduct his research, and funding to built the Uraniborg observatory. From there he generated the most accurate astronomical data of his time. He was exiled to Prague in 1597 and was assisted in his work there by Johannes Kepler until his death. Due to a duelling injury at university, he always wore a metal nose prosthetic.
Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), Danish astronomer. After becoming interested in astronomy as a student in Copenhagen, Tycho Brahe realized the difficulty of making accurate measurements of celestial bodies with the instruments of the day. His designs for new methods and devices won him great fame. He was granted an estate on the island of Hven to conduct his research, and funding to built the Uraniborg observatory. From there he generated the most accurate astronomical data of his time. He was exiled to Prague in 1597 and was assisted in his work there by Johannes Kepler until his death. Due to a duelling injury at university, he always wore a metal nose prosthetic.
Portrait of Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), the Polish astronomer who first claimed that the Universe was centered around the Sun. From 1512, he developed a mathematical model for this heliocentric theory. This system contrasted with the thousand-year-old Earth-centered Ptolemaic system, to which the Roman Catholic church adhered. Copernicus feared persecution and delayed publication of his book, "The Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres," until 1543. The book was banned by the Roman Catholic church from 1616 until 1835. Color enhancement of BN2273.
Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687) and his wife Elisabetha observing the stars. This is an illustration from Hevelius' book "Machina Coelestis" (Celestial Machine). Hevelius invented ten new constellations, seven of which are still recognized by astronomers. Elisabetha Koopman, Hevelius' second wife and assistant, completed her husband's final project after his death. Color enhancement of BN2268.
Portrait of Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), the Polish astronomer who first claimed that the Universe was centered around the Sun. From 1512, he developed a mathematical model for this heliocentric theory. This system contrasted with the thousand-year-old Earth-centered Ptolemaic system, to which the Roman Catholic church adhered. Copernicus feared persecution and delayed publication of his book, "The Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres," until 1543. The book was banned by the Roman Catholic church from 1616 until 1835. Color enhancement of BN2272.
"The doctor discovers, one by one, the secrets of the human body." Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564), the Belgian anatomist who founded modern anatomy. In Italy, Vesaluis revolutionized the study of anatomy, ending the teaching of Galen and practicing direct observation by dissection. His results were published in 1543 in the famous book De Humani Corporis Fabrica (On Structure of the Human Body). The first accurate work on human anatomy, it included many descriptions and fine woodcuts. After this early success, he became a court physician and all but gave up research. Color enhancement of 9N1103.
Johannes Kepler, German astronomer (1571-1630). Kepler devised the three fundamental laws of planetary motion. These laws were based on detailed observations of the planets made by Tycho Brahe and himself. Kepler's first law states that the planets orbit the Sun in elliptical paths, with the Sun at one focus of the ellipse. The second law states that the closer a planet comes to the Sun, the faster it moves. Kepler's third law states that the ratio of the cube of a planet's mean distance from the Sun to the square of its orbital period is a constant. Newton used these ideas to formulate his theory of gravity. Enhancement of black and white image 7p8543.
Democritus of Abdera (470-400 BC), Greek philosopher and the father of atomic theory. Democritus published works on ethics, physics, mathematics, cosmology and music. Very little has survived but his theories are known through commentaries on his work by later philosophers. In his atomic theory he stated that matter is made up of tiny indivisible particles called atoms. The properties of different substances were determined by the physical features of the atoms. For instance, atoms of water were smooth and round whilst atoms of fire were thorny. He believed that the motion of atoms was dictated by definite universal laws of nature and not by the will of the Gods. (Enhancement of BD8010)
Johann Kepler (1571-1630), German astronomer. Kepler formulated the three fundamental laws of planetary motion based on the detailed observations of the planets made by Tycho Brahe. The first of these laws concerned the orbits of planets, which Kepler showed to be elliptical and not circular as previous held. Colorized version of 9A8154.
David Brewster (1781-1868), Scottish physicist. Brewster was a child prodigy, and studied for the ministry of the Church of Scotland. Because he was afraid of speaking in public, he turned instead to the study of optics. He received an award in 1816 for his equation for Brewster's Angle, an angle to maximize reflected light polarization. His other advances in optics included the polyzonal lens (1811) that improved lighthouse lights. He is best remembered for his invention, in 1816, of the kaleidoscope. Millions of the toys were sold. His work on polarization has numerous applications in fiber optics, lasers, microscopy and radio. He was knighted in 1832. Colored Version of BD8006.
Johannes Kepler, German astronomer (1571-1630). Kepler devised the three fundamental laws of planetary motion. These laws were based on detailed observations of the planets made by Tycho Brahe and himself. Kepler's first law states that the planets orbit the Sun in elliptical paths, with the Sun at one focus of the ellipse. The second law states that the closer a planet comes to the Sun, the faster it moves. Kepler's third law states that the ratio of the cube of a planet's mean distance from the Sun to the square of its orbital period is a constant. Newton used these ideas to formulate his theory of gravity.
Carl Friedrich Gauss, German mathematical genius who died 100 years ago, poses in an illustration in front of the observatory which he designed at Goettingen University in Goettingen, Germany on March 8, 1955. Gauss was head astronomer and professor of mathematics at the University. (AP Photo)