Tycho Brahe’s star catalogue, Astronomiæ instauratæ mechanica listing the positions of 1,004 stars, is published.

It Happened on
May 15, 1598

Tycho Brahe’s star catalogue was a comprehensive collection of astronomical observations that he made over a period of many years, from the late 16th century until his death in 1601. Brahe was a Danish astronomer who was famous for his incredibly accurate and precise observations of the positions of stars and planets, which he made using sophisticated instruments that he designed and built himself.

The star catalogue contains measurements of the positions of over 1,000 stars, with an accuracy that was unprecedented at the time. Brahe used a system of measurement based on the angular distance of stars from fixed reference points, rather than the traditional method of describing their positions relative to each other. This allowed him to make more accurate measurements and to track the movements of stars over time.

Brahe’s star catalogue was a major achievement in the field of astronomy, and it helped to pave the way for the development of modern observational techniques. It was also an important resource for later astronomers, including Kepler, who used some of Brahe’s observations to develop his own theories of planetary motion.


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Tycho Brahe

Danish astronomer, known for his accurate and comprehensive astronomical observations