Christian Ortiz WOH2012 C86291086 Sophia Brahe One of history’s most notable woman scientist of the late 15th century and early 16th century was none other than Sophia Brahe . Sophia Brahe was profound student in the sciences which included Medicine, Chemistry genealogy, and Astronomy. She had such a strong passion for science much like her brother who is known as a famous astronomer Tycho Brahe. It was through Tycho were Sophia learned the needed skills to uplift her scientific career. Sophia Brahe was born in Knudstorp, Denmark on August 24th, 1556. She was born into a noble Danish household, Her mother Beaute Bille Brahe was a leader of the royal household for Queen Sophie of Denmark and Her farther Otte Brahe was an adviser for the King of Denmark. Being that their family had such a high status, she was look down upon from her family for her interest in the Scientific field however, Her brother Tycho was very supportive on the other hand and took her in as an his assistant in his Observatory (Christianson, page 107). By the young age of seventeen, Sophia Brahe become the assistant for Tycho Brahe and soon have a huge impact on planetary movement. Sophia Brahe then began to assist her brother with many observations and projects some of which included tracking comets, watching lunar eclipses and timing them and predictions of planetary movements and orbits. Although Tychro specifically told Sophia not to study astronomy, she continued doing so anyway by increasing her knowledge in astronomy by reading and studying German books and paying a great deal of money so that old Latin books could be translated (Christianson, Page 112). Sophia was determined to become more knowledgeable in her field that she would do so at any cost even ... ... middle of paper ... ...entless search for knowledge Tycho may have not been able to become the famous astronomer he was inspiring people like Kepler and Newton, thus changing the course of history. We may not give credit to Sophia Brahe for discovering astronomical and planetary predictions but, she played a great role in the discovery and that is why she is one of history’s most notable woman scientist of her Era. Bibliography Christianson, J. R. On Tycho's Island: Tycho Brahe and His Assistants, 1570-1601. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge UP, 2008. Print. Christianson, J. R. On Tycho's Island: Tycho Brahe, Science, and Culture in the Sixteenth Century. New York, NY: Cambridge UP, 2003. Print. Cramer, Jennifer. Sophia Brahe lifestyle that helped map planets. Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium & Observatory, PA. Published, March 11, 2002. http://old.post-gazette.com/lifestyle/20020311kids0311P9.asp
Boyle, Kay. "Astronomer's Wife." Responding to Literature: Stories, Poems, Plays, and Essays. Fourth Edition. Ed. Judith A. Stanford. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2003. 619-623.
Over the next 50 years Copernicus’s book would slowly make its way across Europe. In 1566 a second edition was published without the false preface. The church denounced the book and Copernicus for “going against the bible”, but eventually began to accept it and allow it to be taught. Copernicus’s work was profound and changed the direction of Astronomy. It dared to challenge the notion that the Earth was the center of the universe, and that heavenly matter was unchanging and perfect. Over the next several hundred years Brahe would observe, Kepler and Newton would pour over the numbers and they would find the Copernicus’s model had underlying truths, some flaws, but with tweaking and vigilant observations of the celestial motions it would be the basis that lead them to the model we know today. Bringing forth what we know as the Copernican Revolution.
Tycho Brahe is remembered for many things: his golden nose, his ignominious death, and his famous last words. All of these things have gone down in history. However, Tycho Brahe was well-known in his time as a respected and well-paid astronomer. His observations were second to none. He was unsatisfiable and meticulous in his profession, building two of the finest observatories of his time, the second because the first was not up to his own high standards. He is still regarded as one of the best naked-eye observationalists of all time (Burke-Gaffney, 153).
Burdick, Autumn. "Solar System Exploration: Planets: Jupiter: Moons." Solar System Exploration: Planets: Jupiter: Moons. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 13 Dec. 2013. Web. Feb. 2014.
Castiglione, Balclesar. "The Book of the Coutier ." Castiglione, Balclesar. The Third Book. London: Norton & Company, 1523. 147-187.
2, Alter Dinsmore, Cleminshaw H. Clarence, Philips G John. Pictorial Astronomy. United States: Sidney Feinberg, 1963.
Many women scientist upheld and defended their positions as learned, scientific individuals. Marie Meurdrac, a French scientist, in a foreword to a publication stated clearly that women’s and men’s minds, if thought in the same manner would hold no difference.(Doc 2) Similarly, Dorothea Erxleben understood and explained why men and women alike look down on her for studying science because they feel that it is an insult.(Doc 9) Her experiences as a female scientist led her to truly grasp why her persecutors acted as they did towards her although this document shows no signs that she thinks the same. Maria Sibylla Merian, a German entomologist, discussed some of her scientific practices that encompass her dedication and fascination with science.(Doc 5) Another example of this whole-hearted dedication comes from Marquis...
Female scientists such as Maria Merian and Marquise Emilie du Chatelet had an impact on western science, demonstrating how women were capable of contributing to the sciences despite society’s opinions. Merian published her book Wonderful Metamorphoses and Special Nourishment of Caterpillars during a time when women were criticized for publishing books and demonstrates how society was not able to completely repress women in science (Doc 5). Marquise Emmilie du Chatelet’s letter to the Marquis Jean Francois de Saint-Lambert also demonstrates how women refused to be repressed by society. She refuted his reproach of her translating Newton’s Principia, a translation so thorough it is still used today (Doc 11). Some men in the sciences also gained a respect for women and their contributions. Not all men at the time believed women were incapable of learning at a university level like Junker did. Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician, even went as far as to state “women of elevated mind advanced knowledge more properly than do men.” As a philosopher Leibniz likely thought beyond society’s opinions, which is why he did not conform (Doc 7). Johannes Hevelius and Gottfried Krich disregarded the notion that collaborating with women was seen as embarrassing, and both collaborated with their wives (Doc 4 and Doc
Historians and archeologists have found physical evidence that ancient civilizations had an active interest it the apparent motion of the celestial objects. Stonehenge in England, The Bighorn Medicine Wheel in the Unit...
Inventor and astronomer Galileo Galilei is one of the most well-known scientists in the history of the world. Galileo has been credited for many astonishing inventions such as the pendulum and the telescope. Through many years of research and studious acts, he discovered behaviors of the universe that still hold true today. Galileo, “the Father of Modern Science”, changed the world.
Dyson, Marianne J. Space and Astronomy: Decade by Decade. New York: Facts on File, 2007. 14+. Print.
When most people think of the Scientific Revolution, they think of scientists such as Galileo, Newton, Brahe, and Boyle. However, many people do not even know about the many women who played a vital role in the scientific advancements of this period. Even when these women were alive, most of society either ignored them or publicly disapproved their unladylike behavior. Because of this, these women were often forgotten from history, and very little is known about the majority of them. Although their names rarely appear in history books, the female scientists of the Scientific Revolution still impacted the world of science in several ways. In fact, all of the scientists listed above had a woman playing an influential role assisting them in their research. However, assisting men in their studies was not the only role open to women; several women performed experimentation and research on their own, or advancing science in some other way, even though the society of the time looked down upon and even resisted their studies.
and Writers. 4th ed. Ed. John Schlib and John Clifford. Bedford. Boston: Bedford, 2009. 1526-1561. Print.
Rice, Eugene E. and Anthony Grafton. The Foundations of Early Modern Europe, 1460-1559. 2nd. ed. New York: W. W. Norton and Co., 1994.
Astronomy is a natural science focusing on the study of celestial objects such as moons, stars, planets, nebulae and galaxies. Astronomy is considered to be one of the oldest natural sciences; early civilizations throughout history such as the Babylonians, Egyptians and Greeks performed methodical observations of the sky. The Babylonians had different astronomical records regarding the position of the moon, sun and stars, on the other hand the Egyptians used astronomy to know the time and afterwards they developed a calendar based on the solar year. The following paper will focus on the ancient Greek astronomy, interestingly the origin of the word astronomy is Greek it comes from two words; astron meaning "star" and nemien refers to "to name". This paper will explain and highlight the methods used, famous figures and the achievements attained during the ancient Greek astronomy era.