FUN FACT TRUMPET
Tycho Brahe owned a pet elk that he sometimes sent to social engagements in his place. Tycho thought this elk could predict the weather.
FACT FILE
Name: Tycho Brahe Born: 14 December 1546, Denmark Died: 1601, Prague, age 54 Cause of death: Unknown Famous for: Discovering the 1572 supernova, calculating the positions of hundreds of stars and planets, generally being a party legend of the first order( and a bit of a silly billy). Weird fact: When Tycho was at university, he got into a violent fight over some mathematical equations( yes, really) and lost a large part of his nose. From then on, he wore a prosthetic made from gold and silver or brass, which was held on with glue( all the better for sniffing out facts).
On the 200-year anniversary of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, the 2025 Lectures will see leading space scientist Dr Dame Maggie Aderin- Pocock take audiences on an epic voyage through time and space. Joined by a host of very special guests – from astronauts to historymaking astronomers – Maggie will explore the extraordinary breakthroughs that have revolutionised our understanding of the universe, enabling us to see ever further into space, and ever further back in time. Check out this link for more info: www. rigb. org / christmas-lectures
FUN FACT TRUMPET Tycho was originally believed to have died from a nasty bladder infection, but when Tycho’ s body was exhumed to be studied in 1901, scientists found that his moustache contained very high levels of mercury. As a result, some people thought that he could have been poisoned to death. This was, however, ruled out in 2010.
CHrIsTmAs LEcTuReS At tHe ROyAl INsTiTuTiOn
MAgGiE’ s tOp tIpS FoR sTaRgAzInG
( brAhE StYlE!)
You don’ t need any special equipment to star gaze. All you need is a clear night. Winter is best because the nights are longer, but make sure you wrap up warm and keep safe.
Move as far away from any lights that could spoil your view. Ideally, you want to be in a big, open space like a park or field, away from tall buildings that block out the sky. Let your eyes get used to the dark.
OK, so Tycho didn’ t have Wi-Fi access, so this tip is for those of us in the 21st century only. There are some great free phone apps and websites that can help you identify what you’ re looking at. You can point your phone at what you’ re looking at, and the app will let you know what it is – for example, a star or a planet.
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Words: Dr Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock. Thanks to the Royal Institution. Illustration: Kaley McKean