Humans have gazed at the night sky for thousands of years, and found it pretty interesting. They learned that you could navigate using the celestial map and, over time, also learned that certain events could be predicted. These learned people were quite prized by their brethren, and their endeavors helped advance our understanding of the world.
a German mathematician and astronomer who may have set up the first observatory in the city of Strasbourg. Reichelt traveled through Northern Europe some time after 1666 and met other notable 17th century scientists and thinkers. After his return from his trip Reichelt may have proposed the building of the "turret lantern" as an astronomical observatory at t...
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a German mathematician and astronomer who may have set up the first observatory in the city of Strasbourg. Reichelt traveled through Northern Europe some time after 1666 and met other notable 17th century scientists and thinkers. After his return from his trip Reichelt may have proposed the building of the "turret lantern" as an astronomical observatory at the top of Strasbourg's Hospital Gate based on the Rundetårn (Round Tower) he saw in Copenhagen.
a German astronomer and mathematician, considered to be the most influential astronomical pedagogue of his generation. He was born and died in Saalfeld, Saxony. In 1536 he was appointed professor of higher mathematics by Philipp Melanchthon. In contrast to...
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a German astronomer and mathematician, considered to be the most influential astronomical pedagogue of his generation. He was born and died in Saalfeld, Saxony. In 1536 he was appointed professor of higher mathematics by Philipp Melanchthon. In contrast to the limited modern definition, "mathematics" at the time also included applied mathematics, especially astronomy. Reinhold catalogued a large number of stars. His publications on astronomy include a commentary (1542, 1553) on Georg Purbach's Theoricae novae planetarum.
an Italian astronomer and a Catholic priest in the Jesuit order. He is known, among other things, for his experiments with pendulums and with falling bodies, for his discussion of 126 arguments concerning the motion of the Earth, and for introducing the current scheme of lunar nomenclature.
a French astronomer and assistant at The French Academy of Sciences, under the direction of Giovanni Cassini. Between 1671 and 1673 he performed experiments and carried out celestial observations in Cayenne, French Guiana, at the request of the French Academy...
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a French astronomer and assistant at The French Academy of Sciences, under the direction of Giovanni Cassini. Between 1671 and 1673 he performed experiments and carried out celestial observations in Cayenne, French Guiana, at the request of the French Academy. His observations and measurements of Mars during its perihelic opposition, coupled with those made simultaneously in Paris by Cassini, led to the earliest data-based estimate of the distance between Earth and Mars, which they then used to calculate the distance between the Sun and Earth (the astronomical unit).
a renowned American astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, mathematician, surveyor, scientific instrument craftsman and public official. Rittenhouse was a member of the American Philosophical Society and the first director of the United States Mint. In 1770 Rittenhouse completed an advanced orrery.
a Dutch astronomer. Arjen Roelofs observed four transits of Mercury. For three of these he made accurate predictions of the start and end times. His observations did not correspond to the orbital elements that were known at the time. If he had made this better known, a more accurate orbit for Mercury could have been calculated, but he was too modest.
a Danish astronomer who in 1676 made the first quantitative measurements of the speed of light. In Rømer's position as royal mathematician, he introduced the first national system for weights and measures in Denmark on 1 May 1683. In 1700, Rømer persuaded the king to introduce the Gregorian calendar in Denmark-Norway — something more
a Danish astronomer who in 1676 made the first quantitative measurements of the speed of light. In Rømer's position as royal mathematician, he introduced the first national system for weights and measures in Denmark on 1 May 1683. In 1700, Rømer persuaded the king to introduce the Gregorian calendar in Denmark-Norway — something Tycho Brahe had argued for in vain a hundred years earlier.
a Baltic German astronomer from Tukums in Courland. Rosenberger graduated from the University of Königsberg, and was noted for his study of comets. He won the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1837. He died in Halle, Prussian Saxony. The crater Rosenberger on the Moon is named after him.
