23/08/2023

Folha: Viana tells the story of the astronomer Sophia Brahe

Foto: Wikimedia

Reproduction of Marcelo Viana's column in Folha de S. Paulo.

The Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546–1601) was the last great astronomer before the invention of the telescope. For decades, he made meticulous observations of the positions of celestial bodies. His assistant Johannes Kepler used these observations to deduce the famous three laws of planetary motion, which, in turn, influenced Isaac Newton's discovery of the law of gravitation. This secures Brahe a place of honor in the history of science .

Equally remarkable, but far less known, is his colleague and younger sister, Sophia Brahe (1559–1643). Born into the aristocracy, the siblings shared a love of science, which their family considered inappropriate for people of their class.

Sophia studied chemistry and horticulture with Tycho and later also became interested in medicine. But her brother initially resisted teaching her astronomy , doubting that she could master the area considered the most complex (and lucrative): astrology.

Thus, Sophia studied astronomy on her own, using German or Latin books that she had translated at her own expense, and ended up collaborating with Tycho on his observations. They were together on November 11, 1572, when they discovered a new star (the supernova SN1572, in current terminology) in the constellation Cassiopeia. A shocking discovery for the time, as it contradicted the dogma that the stellar sphere was eternal and immutable.

We know that they also observed the lunar eclipse of December 8, 1573, together. The appreciation that Tycho developed for his colleague Sophia is evident in his writings, where he refers to her as "animus invictus" (determined mind, in Latin). He represented Sophia in the character of Urania, the Greek muse of astronomy, protagonist of the Latin epic poem "Urania Titani," which he published in 1594. He even delegated to her the task of writing the horoscopes of his clients!

Sophia applied her knowledge of horticulture to the design of the castle gardens. Trolleholm , which currently belongs to Sweden. In the last years of his life, he also wrote a genealogy of the noble families of Denmark, which is still an important source of historical information. He died in 1643 in the city of Helsingør.

To read the full text, visit the newspaper's website.