Tycho in Prague!

Tycho Brahe, born Tyge Ottesen Brahe (descendant of an old noble family), was a prominent Danish astronomer, astrologist and alchemist. He was considered the best and most accurate observer of the stellar sky, who was surpassed only when after the telescope was invented.

He first studied in Copenhagen philosophy and rhetoric, then law at Leipzig. In 1565 he inherited considerable fortune and began to devote his hobbies - alchemy, but above all astronomy. After the death of his father (1571) he returned to Denmark and gained his own observatory. On November 11, 1572, he observed the explosion of the SN 1572 supernova in the constellation Kasiopei.

In 1599 he was invited to Prague by Rudolf II. on the advice of Tadeáš Hájek, where he started to work as an imperial astrologist. He was buried after death in 1601 in the Old Town of Prague in the Church of the Mother of God in front of Týn near Old Town Square.

With numerous astronomical observations, accurate parallax measurements have proven that comets are outside the lunar runway. Based on his observations, especially the positions of Mars, Johannes Kepler could formulate his famous laws of planetary circulation a few years later.

How did they do it?

The Exposition of Astronomy at the National Technical Museum is conceived as an endless space of space full of glittering stars in the form of unique collection items. The introductory part of the elliptical ground plan represents the most important milestones in the history of astronomy in a time range of about 6000 years. The oldest object of the collection is the meteorite found in 2005 in Argentina in the Campo del Cielo, it is almost 5000 years old.

The second part of the exhibition "From the history of astronomical instruments" shows instruments used in astronomy in different historical periods from 15th to 20th century. It is split into six thematic chapters. The center of the presentation is situated to the 16th - 17th centuries, when the most important astronomers - Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler - worked in Prague, the settlement town of Emperor Rudolf II. Also the 18th century, with armament spheres, measuring instruments, globes, sunscreens and other objects, gives insight into the astonishing world of astronomers, geometries, cartographs and ship navigators. The principles of the use of instruments and aids and the introduction to astronomy current knowledge are provided by animated and documentary films.