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Tycho Brahe Facts & Worksheets

Tycho Brahe — born on December 14, 1546 in Knudstrup, Scania, Denmark and died on October 24, 1601 in Prague — was a Danish astronomer renowned for his work in developing astronomical instruments and measuring and fixing the positions of stars that later gave way to other future discoveries.

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Tycho Brahe — born on December 14, 1546 in Knudstrup, Scania, Denmark and died on October 24, 1601 in Prague — was a Danish astronomer renowned for his work in developing astronomical instruments and measuring and fixing the positions of stars that later gave way to other future discoveries. Tycho Brahe’s observations are considered as the most accurate measurements before the invention of the telescope consists of an in-depth study of the solar system and accurate positions of more than 777 fixed stars.

See the fact file below for more information on the Tycho Brahe or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Tycho Brahe worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY YEARS

  • Tycho was born about eight kilometres north of Svalöv in then Danish Scania at his family’s ancestral castle, the Knutstorp Castle (known in Danish as Knudstrup borg, in Swedish as Knutstorps borg).
  • Tycho was the oldest of 12 siblings in which only 8 were able to live to reach adulthood.
  • Tycho had a twin brother who died before being baptized.
  • Tycho’s first published work was not an academic or scholarly work, rather, literature.
  • He wrote an ode in Latin to his dead twin that was printed in 1572.
  • An epitaph shows the whole family, including Tycho as a boy. It was originally from Knutstorp, but is now on a plaque near the church door.
  • Tycho was raised by his uncle Jørgen Thygesen Brahe and his wife Inger Oxe from the age of two years old. The couple were childless.
  • It is unclear why Otte Brahe, Tycho’s father, agreed on this arrangement with his brother.
  • Tycho was the only one among his siblings who was not raised by his mother at Knutstorp.
  • Tycho was raised at Jørgen Brahe’s estate at Tosterup and at Tranekær on the island of Langeland.
  • Later he moved to Næsbyhoved Castle near Odense and later moved again to the Castle of Nykøbing on the island of Falster.
  • Tycho experienced a decent upbringing, in fact, he later wrote that Jørgen Brahe “raised me and generously provided for me during his life until my eighteenth year; he always treated me as his own son and made me his heir.”
  • From ages 6 to 12, Tycho attended Latin school in Nykøbing.
  • At age 12, on April 19, 1559, Tycho began studies at the University of Copenhagen to study law in accordance to his uncle’s wishes.
  • However, he became interested in astronomy.

TYCHO’S NOSE

  • Tycho started studying at the University of Rostock in 1566 where he developed an interest for botanical medicine and medical alchemy.
  • On December 29, 1566, Tycho lost a part of his nose during a sword duel with his third cousin, Manderup Parsberg.
  • The nose of his bridge was damaged and caused a scar on his forehead.
  • He received the greatest care at the university, however, he needed to wear a prosthetic nose for the rest of his life, which was kept in place with paste or glue.

DISCOVERIES & CONTRIBUTION

  • Tycho Brahe was one of the most significant astronomers during the Scientific revolution (1550-1700).
  • During his time, people believed in a geocentric model of the universe, a belief that the universe and the sun revolve around the planet Earth.
  • Brahe was one of the individuals who disagreed with this belief, and helped science progress towards the heliocentric model of the universe: the model in which the Earth and other planets revolve around the sun.
  • Tycho’s works focused on astronomical observations he invented instruments used for measuring the sky.
  • Tycho designed a larger model of measuring instruments like the Sextant and the Quadrant. These larger designs allowed a more wide and accurate measurement.
  • Using these instruments, Tycho was known as the last astronomer to work without the aid of a telescope.

DEATH

  • Tycho Brahe died at the age of 54 in 1601.
  • Tycho attended a banquet where he was believed to have drunk excessively, but refused to leave to use the bathroom, for it is considered rude to leave before the host.
  • This caused Tycho’s bladder to burst, which led to his subsequent death.
  • Mysteriously enough, the scientists who opened Brahe’s grave in 1901 in accordance to the 300th anniversary of his death claimed to find mercury in his remains.
  • The found mercury fueled rumors that Tycho was poisoned.
  • Some even accused his contemporary astronomer, Johannes Kepler, of the crime due to jealousy.
  • However, when his body was examined again in 2010, test results from his bones and hair showed that mercury concentrations were not enough to kill him.
  • The scientists speculate that it must have been due to the cutlery that he used and maybe that the wine he drank the night he died contained gold leaf.

Tycho Brahe Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Tycho Brahe across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Tycho Brahe worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Tycho Brahe — born on December 14, 1546 in Knudstrup, Scania, Denmark and died on October 24, 1601 in Prague — who was a Danish astronomer renowned for his work in developing astronomical instruments and measuring and fixing the positions of stars that later gave way to other future discoveries. Tycho Brahe’s observations are considered as the most accurate measurements before the invention of the telescope consists of an in-depth study of the solar system and accurate positions of more than 777 fixed stars.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Tycho Brahe Facts
  • Brahe’s Biography
  • Time of Astronomy
  • Significant Astronomers
  • The Telescope
  • The Sextant & The Quadrant
  • Tycho’s Observations
  • Brahe Crossword Puzzle
  • Cause of Tycho’s Death
  • 3D Model Making
  • Emulating Tycho Brahe

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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