Johannes Stöffler
Johannes Stöffler (* December 10, 1452 probably in Blaubeuren or Justingen, † February 16, 1531 in Blaubeuren ) was a German mathematician, astronomer, astronomical instruments manufacturer, astrologer and priest. He was a professor at the University of Tübingen.
Life
Johannes Stöffler was born on 10 December 1452 Blaubeuren or Justingen on the Swabian Alb and attended school in Blaubeuren. Immediately after the founding of the University of Ingolstadt, he enrolled at April 21, 1472 there one was in September 1473 and received bachelor in January 1476 with a Masters. After completing his studies, he became proprietor of the parish in belonging to the reign Justingen Gundershofen. Already in 1473 he became chaplain of the parish Justingen, which probably represented a kind of study scholarship. 1481 he took over this well-endowed and equipped with an auxiliary priest parish. In the same year the country Ehinger Chapter elected him dean.
Stöffler was perhaps a descendant of a non- marital union, possibly a grandson, one of Stöffeln. This assumption arises from the extremely benevolent treatment by the Lords of Justingen, the Barons of Stöffeln, also from the fact that he was the same coat of arms as these, and finally from the obviously derived names.
From 1511 he was professor at the University of Tübingen in 1507 on the newly created chair of mathematics and astronomy. In addition to his teaching, he turned astronomical instruments, globes and watches are made, including the still -functioning Astronomical Clock on jewelry gable of Tübingen City Hall. After the expulsion of Duke Ulrich in 1519 Stöffler had for years fighting for his salary.
A plague epidemic in 1530 forced the relocation of the University of operation to other cities in the country. Stöffler, who went with a part of his faculty to Blaubeuren, died there on February 16, 1531 of the plague. He was buried in the choir of the collegiate church in Tübingen. Theodor Reysmann, students Stöffler and Melanchthon, who was also pulled to Blaubeuren, wrote a poem on Stöffler death.
Stöffler successor in Tübingen Philipp Imsser was, which also took over some of its reference library ( some books are now in the Baden State Library of Karlsruhe ).
Astronomy
In addition to his ecclesiastical duties to Stöffler dealt with astronomy and astrology, as well as the manufacture of astronomical instruments, globes and clocks, which he set himself up in the rectory also a workshop. With its products, he quickly earned a reputation. He received an order from the auxiliary bishop of Constance for a celestial globe, his first important work, he made the 1493. His published in several editions font Elucidatio fabricae ususque astrolabii was considered by astronomers and surveyors for a long time as a standard work.
Astrology
Known throughout Europe was Stöffler, sometimes under the name of action derived from his master Hans Just Inger, published by him in collaboration with the Ulm pastor Jakob Pflaum authored and 1499 Almanac, a Ephemeridenwerk of high accuracy. It also contained astrological predictions, inter alia, about the approaching end of the papacy ( such prophecies were at that time because of discontent over the state of the church spread ).
Particularly effective was his prediction for 1524, since he wrote about a rare gathering of all five planets and sun and moon following the zodiac sign of Pisces.:
Stöffler did not speak specifically of flooding, but generally of mutatio, variatio and alteratio. But he announced here world-shaking events: A variety of areas and groups should be concerned, if it were something for centuries not existed before, and at the end he plays on the words of Jesus in the Olivet Discourse to ( Lk 21,28 EU). In combination with the reference to a " watery sign" it was natural to think of dramatic flooding. The terror unleashed Stöffler forecast, the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano made the subject of his historical miniature " The Flood ". Triggered by Stöffler Note discussion applies in view of the large number of published writings on this subject as the most intense of the entire history of astrology. The Viennese astronomer Georg Tannstetter entered against extreme fears ( and polemics about to call without Stöffler by name, against the " author Ephemeridum "). Stöffler responded with its own vindication, and called Tannstetter in the title ( Expurgatio, 1523). Stöffler defended himself by saying that he had already predicted anything concrete.
Colleagues and students
Stöffler now led an extensive correspondence with leading humanists of his time, as well as with John Reuchlin, the Zinner made a Equatorium and created horoscopes. At the instigation of the Duke Ulrich of Württemberg him in 1507 the newly created chair of mathematics and astronomy was transferred to the University of Tübingen, but he accepted the call until 1511 to. He unfolded there an active teaching and publication activities and was in 1522 elected rector. Among his most famous students include Philipp Melanchthon and Sebastian Münster.
Honors
Giovanni Riccioli named in 1651 in Almagestum novum astronomiam published by him selenographic map Francesco Maria Grimaldi's a moon crater Stöffler honor Stoefler. The naming of the crater Stöfler stayed in the sequence in other cards and in 1935 officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union.