This nebula was named after the great Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe who observed and recorded the supernova explosion in 1572 (he was not, however, the only observer; astronomers in China and Korea also recorded its appearance). Brahe was both a colorful character and a critical figure in the develop- ment of modern astronomy. Born into the Danish nobility, he left Denmark to serve as court mathe- matician to the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II and spent most of his working life in Prague. In his student days, BraheΓÇÖs nose was cut off in a sword duel, and he wore a golden artificial nose for the rest of his life. Despite his flamboyant image and lack of modern instru- ments, Brahe was a meticulous and extremely knowledgeable astrono-
