40 replies to this topic

[AllanDystrup]

Classic Astronomy History

 

     The white nights of summer are still upon us up here at 56N in Copenhagen, Denmark. There has been few opportunities for continuing my DSO projects in the June-July nautical twilight skies, so instead I have followed up on my interest in classic astronomy history, with a focus on classic Danish astronomers, observatories and instruments.

    
     I have already touched briefly on this topic in previous threads :

    
• Prehistoric Planetariums: https://www.cloudyni...iums/?p=7886193   (1400 BC)
• Classic Römer Jovilabium: https://www.cloudyni...iums/?p=7880495 (1677)
• Copenhagen Østervold Observatory:  https://www.cloudyni...-art/?p=7243717    (1861)
• Copenhagen Borfelde Observatory: https://www.cloudyni...-art/?p=7248376    (1950)

    

     I’d like to share with you some of my impressions and recordings from visits to ”hot spots” of classic Danish astronomy, such as he Tycho Brahe ”Uraniborg” observatory on the island of Hven (1576), the Copenhagen Round Tower observatory (1642), The Ole Rømer ”Tusculanum” countryside observatory (1704), the Copenhagen Østervold Observatory (1861),  and others.

    

______________________________________________________________________________

    

     First let me elaborate some more on the Classic Rømer Jovilabium – the analog machine for illustrating the positions and motions of the four major Jupiter moons. As you know, Ole Rømer was the first astronomer to perform an in depth study of the motion of the Jovian moons (partly inspired by Cassinis previous Jupiter studies) :

    

*click*

        

 

     The Ole Rømer Museum is located just south of Copenhagen Denmark, at the excavated site of Rømer’s country side observatory ”Observatorium Tusculanum”. The observatory operated until about 1716 when the remaining instruments were moved to the Round Tower Observatory in central Copenhagen. Today there’s a small collection of ancient and more recent astronomical instruments on display at the museum, including fine replicas of the small planetariums Ole Rømer had constructed 1677-1679 for illustrating the Kopernican mechanical movements of the solar system bodies. The first one he designed was the Jovilabium (1677), and it was used both as a mechanic device for planning observations, and also as direct demonstrations of the astronomical theories and models.'

    

*click*

https://www.youtube...._id=-eEeOJCFLnQ

 

    

Allan   

Edited by AllanDystrup, 27 July 2017 - 04:23 AM.

[Mr. Joey]

I love this stuff!

An inspiration to all DIY-type folks. These guys didn't have a local astro-mart. They started a project with a jar of ink, a quill, and a blank sheet of paper!

Remarkable.

Now I'll go look at your previous threads as I was unaware of them,

Thanks Allan!

Mr. Joey

[Sasa]

During holidays, I have visited museum in Zamberk (Senftenberg). Theodor Brorsen, danish astronomer, spent part of his life in the private observatory established by John Parish. According to my knowledge, there is only one NGC entry discovered from our country - globular cluster NGC6539 by Brorsen using 96mm refractor in Zamberk. Brorsen is of course more known for his discoveries of comets and work on Zodiacal light - he gave the correct explanation of gegenschein phenomenon.

 

I wanted to see what was left from the observatory. Unfortunately not much was preserved. John's heir took down the building and all telescopes and other valuable instruments were sold. Even the location of observatory is uncertain. The most interesting piece in the museum was the observatory clock. It was made by Czech clock-master. He made only three large observatory clocks - the second is in observatory in Trieste, and the third clock was used until ~1950 in Prague Klementinum to provide the main time for the radio signals). In addition they had in the museum lovely image which shows Brorsen together with John Parish during observation:

 

http://www.komety.cz...s/panotypie.jpg

 

It is rare and in our country the oldest known example of "panotypie" imaging (predecessor of film imaging).

[AllanDystrup]

Wonderful image Sasa, of Brorsen and Parish shooting for DSO with their long focus classic refractors!

 

 

Classic Rømer Planetarium

 

 

*click*

 

     To get a closer look and a better understanding of these marvelous machines, we’ll have to visit the Ole Rømer Museum again – just a small ½h drive to the countryside south of Copenhagen...

 

Allan  

Edited by AllanDystrup, 29 July 2017 - 03:32 AM.

[AllanDystrup]

      The Ole Rømer Planetarium

      

    

     The Ole Rømer solar system analogue calculators, that he designed in 1680 during his stay at the Académie Royale des Sciences in Paris were made in 4 sets, of which only two have survived: those of the French and the Danish kings. In 1982 the two machines at Rosenborg Castle were dismantled, documented (technical drawings) and restored, and a pair of complete copies were made by Danish museum conservator and clock maker Søren Andersen. Today the copies are on display at the Ole Rømer Museum.

    

     The Planetarium makes it possible to calculate the positions of the 6 then known planets relative to the stars at a given time. On the front/planet side, the sun is at the center, and the planetary circular orbits are laid out slightly excentric approximating elliptical trajectories of the real orbits. The moon is on a silver disc showing phases as it orbits the earth. Outside the planetary orbits is an degree scaled engraving of the ecliptic (for transposing the planet positions on the front side to the star map on the back side).

    

     On the back/fixed star side is engraved a star map showing constellations and more than 100 stars, plus the celestial equator and ecliptica. Around the star map is an engraved scale showing months, dates and degrees – just like on a modern planisphere. When turning the central handle (and thereby the internal gears), you also turn a superimposed hour scale plus a horizon-”window” showing the visible section of the night sky. At the same time you also move the planets along in their orbits on the front side. Two dials can be used to set a specific time for observation :  decade (1580-1780) plus year (0-9).

    

     As a visitor to the museum, you get to turn the central axis of the "Machina Planetarium Roemeri" astrolabe and see the universe spin in front of your eyes. And contemplate, that this was constructed more than 300 years ago...

 

*click*

 

 

     Now, before moving on to Ole Rømer’s Eclipsareon, I’d like to sidestep a little to the first protopype of the Planetarium, which Ole Rømer designed in Paris 1677. For this however, we’ll have to retrace our steps to central Copenhagen, to the top of the Round Tower.

 

Allan

[musicengin]

I love this stuff!

An inspiration to all DIY-type folks. These guys didn't have a local astro-mart. They started a project with a jar of ink, a quill, and a blank sheet of paper!

Remarkable.

Now I'll go look at your previous threads as I was unaware of them,

Thanks Allan!

Mr. Joey

My feelings exactly!  Thank you, Allan.

[semiosteve]

...and then there is of course the Voynich Manuscript...Classic Astronomy History Mystery

 

[AllanDystrup]

YouTube link to the small Jovilabium video : https://youtu.be/-eEeOJCFLnQ
Was broken it seems, but should work now....

/ Allan
 

[AllanDystrup]

    

Ole Rømer Round Tower Planetarium, 1697 Version

        

    

     Ole Rømer constructed a prototype of his ”Machina Planetarium Roemeri” in Paris, 1677. When he returned to Copengagen, he had this early version installed in the central Copenhagen Observatory on top of the Round Tower in 1697. The first version of his planetarium illustrated the Tychonic cosmology with the earth in the center, as an homage to his great predecessor.

    
        In 1717 Ole Rømers successor as astronomy professor Peder Horrebow altered this machine from showing the Tychonic cosmology  to  showing the Copernican concept as well:  with a small device he could change the machine between the two systems (!).   A decade later, at the Great Copenhagen Fire in 1727, this planetarium was however severely damaged, beyond repair.

    

    

Ole Rømer Round Tower Planetarium, 1742 / 1822 Version

    

*click*

    

    

Ole Rømer Round Tower Planetarium, 1928 Version

  

*click*

     

      

Ole Rømer Round Tower Planetarium, 1991 Version

    

*click*

 

    

Allan   

Edited by AllanDystrup, 07 August 2017 - 08:39 AM.

[Terra Nova]

Do they have his (TB) copper nose on display?

[AllanDystrup]

Do they have his (TB) copper nose on display?

 

     Nope -- TB was of a fiery temperament and ended up having strong disagreements with almost all, including the Danish king Christian IV. In 1597 he left Denmark for a position as imperial astronomer to Rudolph II in Prague (now Czech Republic), where he died in 1601. He's buried in Prague, but was exhumed in 2010 at the request by Danish scientists to examine the cause of his death (most likely a burst bladder) and - Tadaaa.... :  the material of his nose (brass, not copper, nor silver or gold).

    

     I assume his humble brass nose went back into the ground together with the remains of his beard, which showed a high concentration of mercury -- but not enough to have killed him -- he was an alchemist, after all. Could have been fine having the brass nose on display though, at the Tycho Brahe Planetarium in Copenhagen -- next to the moon rock!

 

Allan

Edited by AllanDystrup, 07 August 2017 - 01:43 PM.

[Terra Nova]

I guess it was that firey temper that cost him his nose. In a duel I believe.

 

We have a saying here: 'Cut off his nose to spite his face!"

Edited by terraclarke, 07 August 2017 - 06:22 PM.

[Bonco]

I've read his bladder burst because he didn't want to leave his friends during a drinking binge to relieve himself. Correct me if you know otherwise.

Bill

[Mr. Joey]

Tycho the Psycho?

 

Since being a teenager, I've had an on-again, off-again, love affair with Luna. We go through phases...

I just think it's fitting that I always thought of Tycho as Luna's nose.

 

They should have the brass fixture on display. Besides being an oddity, it likely has some technical merit to it.

 

My girlfriend is full-on tonight (08/07/2017), I'll make a note to cast a gaze at Tycho, and compliment my love on the beauty of her nose. She's really held up well for her age!

 

Regards,

Mr. Joey

[AllanDystrup]

     Tycho had a dispute with a fellow student over one of his astrological predictions (horoscope) in connection with a solar eclipse in 1566. This was probably what triggered the sword duel (until "first blood"), where he lost part of his nose.

    

     Tycho probably died from bladder rupture leading to a subsequent infection, after politeness kept him from going to the bathroom during a royal banquet in October 1601.

    

     As for his nose prosthesis, it was not found in his grave (probably totally corroded after 400 years), but greenish stains around the nasal area of his scull (from which was taken a bone sample) clearly revealed traces of equal amounts of copper+zinc, indicating that the prosthesis was made of brass,

 

Allan

Edited by AllanDystrup, 08 August 2017 - 03:05 AM.

[AllanDystrup]

    

Ole Rømer Eclipsareon

    

    

*click*

 

*click*

    

    

Here’s a small video I made of the Ole Rømer Eclipsareon : https://youtu.be/S-QwybHNmh8

It is from  the replica exhibited in the Ole Rømer Museum.

    

 

Allan   

[AllanDystrup]

.

     Fall has arrived with a string of rainy days and nights on its coattails... So let me close the writings on Ole Roemers contributions to classic astronomy with this last "chapter" :

 

**********

 

     When Ole Rømer returned from Paris to Denmark in 1681, he was appointed professor of astronomy at the University of Copenhagen. The main task of this position was still - as it had been in the period of Tycho Brahe  – positional astrometry : i.e. measuring the precise positions of stars and planets in order to produce exact tables and maps for timing, almanac publication,  location  determination, navigation at sea and terrestrial surveying.

 

     For these purposes Tycho Brahe had in the 1580-90’ies used traditional alt-az sextants, quadrants and equatorial armillary spheres with relatively primitive sighting devices and mechanical watches. These had been used as far back as Eratosthenes (248 bc), but the instruments employed by Tycho Brahe were significantly larger and more stable than the classics, thereby improving the precision down to ~60-20” and 0.5 min/24h (maybe I’ll write more on that later).

 

 

 

 

     Ole Rømer now introduced the telescope as sighting instrument in Denmark, using illuminated reticles and micrometers plus pendulum watches for more precise measurements of position and time (down do ~ 5” and and 0.5 sec/24h).

 

 

For still increased accuracy, he later refined these constructions, first to the transit instrument and last and finally to the meridian circle.

 

 

Allan
 

[AllanDystrup]

.    

 

     The Ole Rømer Museum is located south of Copenhagen, at the excavated site of Rømer’s Observatorium Tusculanum. The observatory operated until about 1716 when the remaining instruments were moved to the Round Tower Observatory in central Copenhagen.

 

 

 

     Unfortunately only a few of Ole Rømer’s meridian observations from the Tusculanum Observatory has survived; Most of them were lost together with all his original observation instruments in the great Copenhagen Fire of 1728. However, a former student and assistant of Ole Rømer - and later professor of astronomy at the Round Tower Observatory -  Peder Horrebow, has described Rømer’s observations and instruments.

 

     Besides his contributions to astronomy, Ole Rømer introduced the first national system for weights and measures in Denmark-Norway in 1683, and in the early 1700’ies he made the king introduce the Gregorian calendar and invented one of the first temperature scales. He worked tirelesly to improve the infrastructure in Denmark, planning the making of new pavement, inventing the first oil street lights,  setting up rules for building new houses, getting the Copenhagen’s water supply and sewers back in order and ensuring  new and better equipment for the fire department. He also initiated a social reform for the poor, the unemployed, and the prostitutes.

 

Allan   

[AllanDystrup]

.

     We're currently at the peak of summer in July here in Denmark (56dg N latitude), with solar midnight at the transition from astronomical dusk to dawn. This season is characterized by frequent front systems being dragged in from the Atlantic by the jet stream, often with warm weather haze and bands of cauliflower clouds (cumulus humilis) on their coat tails; Not the best conditions for astronomical observations, so instead this week I spent three days with my wife on the Island of Hven, partly to study nature and partly to walk in the footsteps of Tycho Brahe.

    

    

Tycho Brahe (1546-1602)

    

     In this thread on classic Danish astronomy I’ve briefly touched upon the role of Tycho Brahe’s late 1500 sextant, quadrant and armillary instruments (see: this post https://www.cloudyni...tory/?p=8090515) as precursors of the more refined transit instrument and meridian circle, which was introduced by Ole Römer (around 1700).

    
     I’d now like to take a step back and have a closer look at Tycho Brahe’s observatory and instruments, which he used to significantly improve the accuracy of the classic positional data for planets and stars, mostly dating back to Aristoteles and Hipparcos in antiquity. In 1576 the Danish king awarded Tycho the island of Hven N of Copenhagen, where he had >100 craftsmen, students and assistants erect the “Urania Castle” (Uraniborg) observatory as the first scientific astronomy research center in the world. With his obsession of systematic and precise measurement, crosschecking his results using different methods and describing and quantifying errors, Tycho was in many ways the founder of the modern scientific research method in natural history.

    
     To further reduce error sources from wind exposure and temp. gradients in his already high precision measurements done in the observing galleries at Uraniborg, Tycho later (in 1583) moved many of the instruments to a more stable and controlled environment in the underground observatories of a newly constructed “Star Castle” (Stjerneborg) just S of Uraniborg. This can be considered the first purely astronomical scientific observatory in the world.

    
     I like to think of Stjerneborg as the “Hubble Telescope” of the 15. Century. So, let’s take a pilgrimage to the island of Hven to see what’s left today of this world astronomy heritage. First though, let’s have a closer look at what the observatory and the instruments looked like back then, at the time of Tycho:

    

*click*

    

*click*

    

*click*

         

To-be-continued,

     -- Allan

 

[AllanDystrup]

.    

Tycho Brahe -- Uraniborg

    

    

     Let’s move on now and have a closer look at what remains today of Tycho Brahe’s observation site at the center of the Island of Hven. Here’s an overview map of the site as it looks today (2019).

 

*click*

  

  

     As you can see, Uraniborg Castle itself is sadly gone, marked only in outline by a planted hedge. Tycho left Hven and Denmark in 1597, taking with him all his astronomical instruments, and later in 1650 King Christian 4. had the castle torn down and the materials reused to renovate a royal estate just S. of Uraniborg (an estate that can be traced back to the 13. century, when Hven served as a royal hunting park for Denmark’s King Valdemar). Only some rubble, pipes and potsherds have been unearthed in superficial excavations at the Uraniborg site (some underground ruins still remain), and these few items are now on display at the Tycho Brahe museum in the former All Saints’ Church. The renaissance garden and orchard with fences, pavilions and earthworks have been partly recreated (in the 1990’ies) from contemporary illustrations and descriptions, and they now give a good impression of the surroundings of the Castle at it looked back in Tycho’s days.

     

*click*
    

     
*click*

    

    
     Tycho’s printing press was located at the S corner of the plot. The paper for the printing was produced at his own paper mill at the SW shore of the island. Today the printing press is gone, as is the water mill (apart of a recovered piece of the water wheel in the Museum), but the millpond has been recreated at the site of the paper mill.
    

*click*

 

     To-be-continued...
     --     Allan

[rcwolpert]

This past May my wife and I decided to take a trip to Europe, and I wanted to check off some of my classic astronomy bucket list items.

 

The first one was the Astronomical Clock in Prague. The Astronomical Clock was installed in the early 1400’s and heavily damaged during WWII, and reconstructed after the war. The 4 figures at the sides of the clock: figure looking into the mirror = Vanity, figure with bag of coins = Greed, Skeleton = Death hold an hour glass to remind viewers that our time is running out, figure with mandolin = Hedonism.

 

 

The blue doors open and the 12 Apostles appear at the windows every hour on the hour, all the figures move, and there's also a roster who crows. It was spectacular seeing this. Check this off the bucket list!

 

[rcwolpert]

Regensburg, Germany is the locations of another of my classic telescope bucket list items: The Johannes Kepler Museum. Regensburg was the city that Kepler was living in when he died.  There were too many artifacts, telescopes, books, etc. to share here, but here are just a couple.

 

 

 

[rcwolpert]

.    

Tycho Brahe -- Uraniborg

    

    

     Let’s move on now and have a closer look at what remains today of Tycho Brahe’s observation site at the center of the Island of Hven. Here’s an overview map of the site as it looks today (2019).

 

TB Obs Site.jpg
*click*

  

  

     As you can see, Uraniborg Castle itself is sadly gone, marked only in outline by a planted hedge. Tycho left Hven and Denmark in 1597, taking with him all his astronomical instruments, and later in 1650 King Christian 4. had the castle torn down and the materials reused to renovate a royal estate just S. of Uraniborg (an estate that can be traced back to the 13. century, when Hven served as a royal hunting park for Denmark’s King Valdemar). Only some rubble, pipes and potsherds have been unearthed in superficial excavations at the Uraniborg site (some underground ruins still remain), and these few items are now on display at the Tycho Brahe museum in the former All Saints’ Church. The renaissance garden and orchard with fences, pavilions and earthworks have been partly recreated (in the 1990’ies) from contemporary illustrations and descriptions, and they now give a good impression of the surroundings of the Castle at it looked back in Tycho’s days.

     

TB UB 01.jpg
*click*
    

      TB UB 02.jpg
*click*

    

    
     Tycho’s printing press was located at the S corner of the plot. The paper for the printing was produced at his own paper mill at the SW shore of the island. Today the printing press is gone, as is the water mill (apart of a recovered piece of the water wheel in the Museum), but the millpond has been recreated at the site of the paper mill.
    

TB UB 03.jpg
*click*

 

     To-be-continued...
     --     Allan

 

Allan, thought that you might be interested in this book which is displayed in the Kepler Museum in Regensburg, Germany. It was amazing to see come of these books with actual written notes by the author on some of the pages.

 

[AllanDystrup]

.

     rcwolpert, thank you for the descriptions from the Astronomical Clock in Prague and from the Regensburg Kepler museum! -- both sites of great significance for our astronomical history, and both sites also related to the life story of Tycho Brahe.

 

     The book by Tycho: "Opera Omni" describing all his astronomical instruments, and by Kepler: "Harmonices Mundi", where he - building on Tychos data - deduces his "third law" of planetary movements*, -- those books are indeed cornerstones in the classic foundation of modern astronomy.

 

     I'll have more to say on Tychos observation instruments (cf. Opera Omni), methods and results in my next post, where I'll describe his Stjerneborg observatory, which is somewhat better preserved and restored than the Uraniborg Castle.

 

     -- Allan

 

*(the square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional 
  to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit)

Edited by AllanDystrup, 20 July 2019 - 12:43 PM.

[Terra Nova]

Great information and wonderful pictures. I haven’t been to Europe in eleven years. It’s time for me to go back!