The First European Observatory in the Modern Era
The First European Observatory in the Modern Era
- Prior to the beginning of the Modern Era, only sporadic
observations of the planets and fixed stars took place. These
observations were usually for astrological reasons.
- The age of voyages of discovery demanded a more accurate
measurement of the fixed stars.
- In 1560, the Hessian Landgrave Wilhelm IV (1532-1592), also
called the Wise, founded the first European observatory of the modern
age in Kassel.
- The observatory consisted of two terraces on the south face of
the old City palace, which burned down in 1811. Each of these carried
an open balustraded observing platform.
- By 1867 the Landgrave had already remeasured and cataloged 52
stars.
- Many well known astronomers visited Kassel, including the Dane
Tycho
Brahe (1546-1601), who - on the recommendation of Wilhelm - in
1580 built the first single purpose observatory on Hven in Uraniborg
with funds from the royal treasury.
- Using Brahe's precise observational data on
Mars -
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) was able to postulate the laws of
planetary motion.
- Parts of the observatorys equipment is show today at the
Museum für
Astronomie und Technikgeschichte in Kassel.
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Last Update: 28-December-2001 by Holger Mai
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