Christen Sørensen (born as Christian Severin; also known as Longomontanus) was born in Longberg, Denmark in 1562. Born in to a poor family, Sørensen did not complete his education until the age of twenty-six. In 1590, Sørensen began working at Tycho Brahe's observatory, Uraniborg, as his primary assistant. Working for Brahe allowed Sørensen some close insight of Brahe's advanced astronomical research and observations. However, the two worked so closely that it is difficult to distinguish specifically how and what Sørensen contributed to Brahe's work. Some sources attribute the development of Tycho's Lunar Theory to Sørensen as he was the one who surpervised the compilation of Brahe's star catalog. Upon Tycho's death and in Sørensen's absence, Johannes Kepler , another assistant to Brahe, took it upon himself to continue Brahe's research using his own methods. Sørensen attempted to dissuade Kepler of his methods and ultimately never accepted Kepler's findings and research.
Sørensen managed to carry on Tycho Brahe's legacy without the key component of his observations and star charts (in Kepler's possession at the time). Sørensen is acknowledged for writing a testimonial for Brahe's work: Astronomica Danica (published in 1622). In this testament, Sørensen detailed the various geocentric (Ptolemaic and Tychonic) and heliocentric (Copernican) models while finally expressing his support for the Tychonic system, a combination of the planetary motions of the Copernican model and the geocentrism of the Ptolemaic model.
In 1597 Uraniborg was forced to shut down and Sørensen was left to pursue his education independently. At first he was able to continue working for Tycho Brahe (during which time the Lunar theory was established), but after Brahe's death in 1601, Sørensen began touring German universities and soon found his niche at the University of Copenhagen. In 1605, Chancellor Christian Friis of the University of Copenhagen sponsored Sørensen and he became a well known professor. By 1621, Sørensen transitioned from a professor of mathematics to a professor of astronomy and higher mathematics. Sørensen has left his legacy at the University of Copenhagen by establishing a tradition of astronomical education and drafting the Round Tower observatory; he was unable to see its completion before his death on October 8th, 1647.
Christen Sørensen is an often overlooked figure in the astronomical world. Although his contributions to the development of theories of planetary motion in the 17th century were extremely valuable, he is often hidden behind the shadow of Tycho Brahe and other great astronomers of the time period.
Sørensen managed to carry on Tycho Brahe's legacy without the key component of his observations and star charts (in Kepler's possession at the time). Sørensen is acknowledged for writing a testimonial for Brahe's work: Astronomica Danica (published in 1622). In this testament, Sørensen detailed the various geocentric (Ptolemaic and Tychonic) and heliocentric (Copernican) models while finally expressing his support for the Tychonic system, a combination of the planetary motions of the Copernican model and the geocentrism of the Ptolemaic model.
In 1597 Uraniborg was forced to shut down and Sørensen was left to pursue his education independently. At first he was able to continue working for Tycho Brahe (during which time the Lunar theory was established), but after Brahe's death in 1601, Sørensen began touring German universities and soon found his niche at the University of Copenhagen. In 1605, Chancellor Christian Friis of the University of Copenhagen sponsored Sørensen and he became a well known professor. By 1621, Sørensen transitioned from a professor of mathematics to a professor of astronomy and higher mathematics. Sørensen has left his legacy at the University of Copenhagen by establishing a tradition of astronomical education and drafting the Round Tower observatory; he was unable to see its completion before his death on October 8th, 1647.
Christen Sørensen is an often overlooked figure in the astronomical world. Although his contributions to the development of theories of planetary motion in the 17th century were extremely valuable, he is often hidden behind the shadow of Tycho Brahe and other great astronomers of the time period.
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