Erasmus Reinhold

Erasmus Reinhold (* October 22, 1511 in Saalfeld / Saale; † February 19, 1553 ) was a German astronomer and mathematician. He is one of the first supporters of the Copernican world view and developed this further. It can therefore be seen as a link between Copernicus and Kepler.

Life

Reinhold was educated at the University of Wittenberg since the winter semester 1530/31, where he was also rector. In 1535 he was master of the seven liberal arts and on 30 April 1536, he found refuge in the Senate of the faculty of philosophy. In 1536 he was appointed professor of higher mathematics by Philipp Melanchthon, like Rheticus. Reinhold identified and described a large number of stars. He had also participated in the organizational tasks of the university. He was, in 1549 Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy in the winter semester 1540/41, and in the summer semester and was in the winter semester WS 1549/50 Rector of the Alma Mater.

He used a moderate pragmatic teachings of Nicolaus Copernicus. From Duke Albrecht of Brandenburg -Ansbach he was supported, which financed the printing of the Prussian Tables, where these got their name. These astronomical tables helped the Copernican system throughout the German Reich and to make known beyond. Reinhold was known for his accurate readings. It is significant that Tycho Brahe was so interested in Reinholds measurements show that this self took the journey to Saalfeld to Reinhold.

In 1582 the calculations of Copernicus and the Prussian Tables were used as the basis for the Gregorian calendar reform.

The lunar crater Reinhold is named after him. In his home town of Saalfeld, a school and a street named after him.

Works

  • Prutenicae tabulae Coelestium motuum. Wittenberg in 1551, Tübingen 1574, Wittenberg 1584
  • Primus liber Tabularum directioum, accedunt canon foecundus ad singular scrupula quadrantis Propagates et nova tabula climatum, parallellorum et urbrarum et appendix canonum secundi libri qui directionum in Regimontani opera desiderantur. Tübingen 1554
  • Theo Ricae novae planetarum, figures et scholiis auctae. Wittenberg in 1542, Paris in 1543, Wittenberg 1580
  • Thorough true record of the field measuring ... Erfurt 1574
Dean (education) Reinhold (crater) Walter Friedensburg Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Neue Deutsche Biographie Johann Heinrich Zedler Integrated Authority File
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