|
Astrology as a political means
Tycho Brahe's royal patronages revelled in the prestige coming from having a world famous astronomer on their payroll. But for themselves, they wanted astrological forecasts. In these times, the world was as unsafe as it is today, and it was important to be informed on current affairs.
The outcome of a war against a neighbouring country. When an epidemic would spend itself. Or even more disturbing: When suddenly a new star appeared in the sky, or a ball of fire tore along the heavens. Supernovas and comets were seen as very bad omens.
In 1572 Tycho Brahe discovered a new star in the sky. He described it in a little book, in which he first meticulously explained the star's position in the Firmament. After this he made it clear, that this star could not be regarded a new Star of Bethlehem. The gulf between science and religion had not yet been dug.
|
5 years later Tycho Brahe observed a comet moving across the the Danish nightsky. His astrological interpretation of the comet's appearance was not reassuring: War, sickness, bad harvests, hunger and death. Especially "towards the West of Christian Europe", i. e. Germany, the Netherlands, and especially Spain.
Whether these predictions were right or wrong, is up to everyone to decide for themselves. At this time in Europe, there were so many little local wars, hungers and epidemics, that it is impossible to make clear, which ones Tycho Brahe could have meant.
On the astronomical side of things, Tycho Brahe's observations of the New Star and the Comet redefined astronomical knowledge. Tycho Brahe was able to determine, that 1800 years of knowledge about comets and supernovas had been wrong. The man until then believed by the whole world - who had now been proved wrong - was no other than the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.
|
