Page:Tycho brahe.djvu/182



year 1588 is one of great importance in the life of Tycho Brahe, not only because his firm friend and benefactor died in that year, but also because he then published a volume containing some of the results of his work at Uraniborg, and embodying his views on the construction of the universe. The subject specially dealt with in this volume was the great comet of 1577, the most conspicuous of the seven comets observed in his time.

This comet was first noticed by Tycho on the 13th November 1577, but it had already been seen in Peru on the 1st, and in London on the 2nd November. On the evening of the 13th, a little before sunset, Tycho was engaged at one of his fishponds, trying to catch some fish for supper, when he remarked a very brilliant star in the west, which he would have taken for Venus if he had not