Uraniborg

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Tycho Brahe's Uraniborg from his 1598 mechanica book (largest scan 320KB)
Tycho Brahe's Uraniborg from his 1598 mechanica book (largest scan 320KB)
Tycho Brahe's Uraniborg main building from the 1663 Blaeu's Atlas Major
Tycho Brahe's Uraniborg main building from the 1663 Blaeu's Atlas Major

Uraniborg was the astronomical/astrological observatory of Tycho Brahe; built circa 1576-1580 on Hven (also known as Ven or Hveen), an island in the Öresund; between Zealand and Scania.

Tycho wrote that on August 8, 1576, they laid the cornerstone. The building was dedicated to Urania, the Muse of Astronomy and named Uraniborg, "The Castle of Urania." In a more humanist Danish, it can also be interpreted as "sky castle" or "star fortress," depending upon your translator.

Uraniborg became a kind of early "research institute", which attracted students from many regions. The palace also held equipment for alchemical research, and the gardens held herbs and flowers in geometrically laid out patterns. Nearby was Tycho's subterranean Stjerneborg observatory which he built when he found Uraniborg not stable enough for his precision instruments. On losing support from the new king Christian IV of Denmark, Tycho abandoned Hven in 1597 and both Uraniborg and Stjerneborg were destroyed shortly after Tycho's death. Stjerneborg was the subject of archeological excavations during the 1950s, the result of which was restoration of the observatory. Stjerneborg now houses a multimedia show.

The gardens of Uraniborg are currently (though slowly) being restored as part of a historical research project to use the species and varieties then extant.


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