Born: 14 December 1546 · Died: 24 October 1601 · Age at death: 54
How old was Tycho Brahe when he died?
Tycho Brahe died aged 54. He was born on 14 December 1546 and died on 24 October 1601.
Danish astronomer whose precise naked-eye observations from his island observatory allowed Kepler to discover planetary laws
Did you know?He lost part of his nose in a duel with a fellow student and wore a replacement made of metal for the rest of his life.
Quick facts
Date of birth14 December 1546
Date of death24 October 1601
Age at death54
Cause of deathKidney failure
NationalityDanish
BirthplaceKnutstorp Castle, Sweden
Occupationastronomer, autobiographer, poet
Editor's Take:
Tycho Brahe made the most accurate measurements of the sky before the telescope. A Danish nobleman, he built a great observatory on the island of Hven. He showed that a new star in 1572 lay far beyond the Moon. That proved the heavens could change. His careful records later allowed Kepler to discover the laws of planetary motion. He wore a metal nose after losing part of his own in a duel. He kept a tame elk.
Key Milestones
1572: New star – supernova
1576: Uraniborg – observatory
1577: Comet – tracked
1599: Prague – imperial astronomer
Tycho Brahe ( TY-koh BRAH-(h)ee, - BRAH(-hə); Danish:; born Tyge Ottesen Brahe, Danish:; 14 December 1546 – 24 October 1601), generally called Tycho for short, was a Danish astronomer known for his comprehensive and unprecedentedly accurate astronomical observations which helped to turn astronomy into the first…