2009 - What a year it will be!
The International Year of Astronomy 2009
The 400th anniversary since Galileo first turned his telescope to the heavens.
Check out this video.
Thanks to Astronomy Blog.
Entries Tagged as ''
The Moon will occult several Pleiads Tuesday night
On the evening of April 8th the moon will pass in front of the northernmost stars of the Pleiades. The event starts before 10 p.m. in northern Michgan and lasts until past 11 p.m. The chart below shows the moon at 10 minute intervals from 9 to 10 p.m., and the stars it will occult. If you’re located at other places on the earth, check your local astronomical sources for time and if the occultation is visible at your location. The chart was created using Cartes duCiel and the image manipulating program GIMP, both open source programs.
Jepp the Clairvoyant Dwarf Jester
Astronomers seem to be colorful characters, though in my opinion none are colorful as Tycho Brahe. When talking about Tycho side notes abound, he is probably known better for his oddities then his astronomical work. Tycho was large Danish Nobleman who at one point ruled a small
Tycho believed Jepp to be clairvoyant. Tycho as most astronomers of the time was also an astrologer, but he was not very sure of astrological predictions so Tycho may have though having a clairvoyant on hand to be a good idea. I have also read in some fiction that Jepp did not like Kepler. This could be proof of his clairvoyant abilities as recent evidence has lead some to wonder if Kepler was involved in Tychos death.
Jepp was considered a dwarf standing as tall as Tychos knees, and more of a novelty then a person. Jepp spent dinner time under the table, possibly begging for food and getting some scraps now and then. Others accounts claim that Tycho would just toss him the bones. Since Tycho probably viewed Jepp as a possession similar to a pet he may have believed that Jepp enjoyed spending time under the table waiting for he scraps. Much like a pet there are also claims that Jepp slept at the foot of Tychos bed at night, once again claims of having to beg for food are brought up with this story. Other stories claim that Jepp followed Tycho around like a pet. The one perk Jepp received was being the court Jester when Tycho traveled Jepp was included in the entourage. The consistent thread in most stories about Jepp is that he could not have a lower social status.
In “The Book of Splendor” a work of fiction by Frances Sherwood a lightly different view of Jepp is given. Sherwood shows Tycho looking to Jepp for comfort as he lay dieing. Jepp holding one hand as Kepler holds the other while his doctor tends to him. In the story Tycho is found calling for Jepp when he is not by his side. While it is a book of fiction it is the only writing about Jepp where I find him shown in any light other then a possession of Tychos.
Next time I may tell the story of Tychos pet moose/elk “Rix” who died when he fell down the castle stairs after drinking to much beer.