Bernhard Walther facts for kids

Walther's home, where he had his observatory. It's now the Albrecht Dürer House museum.

Bernhard Walther (born 1430 – died June 19, 1504) was a smart German merchant and a humanist. He was also a very important astronomer who lived in Nuremberg, Germany.

Bernhard Walther was born in Memmingen. He was quite wealthy and used his money to study science. In 1471, a famous astronomer named Regiomontanus moved to Nuremberg. Walther and Regiomontanus worked together. They built an observatory to watch the stars and planets. They also set up a printing press to share their scientific ideas.

After Regiomontanus passed away in 1476, Walther bought all his special astronomy tools. Walther kept observing the planets from his home in Nuremberg until he died. His house was later bought by the famous artist Albrecht Dürer. Today, it is a museum you can visit.

Studying the Stars and Planets

Bernhard Walther made very careful observations of the sky. He studied how light bends when it passes through the air. This bending, called refraction, can make stars appear in a slightly different spot. He also used the planet Venus to help connect his observations of the Sun and other stars.

Because of his careful work, Walther's observations were the most accurate of his time. They were even more precise than anyone else's until Tycho Brahe came along much later.

One of Walther's students, Johannes Schöner, shared some of Walther's notes. These notes included 45 observations of the planet Mercury. The famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus later used some of these observations in his important book, "De revolutionibus".

Special Tools and Inventions

Bernhard Walther was also known for using new technology. In 1484, he started using clocks that were powered by weights. This was the first time such clocks were used to help with astronomy. These clocks helped him measure time more accurately during his observations.

His printing press was also very important. It helped him publish some of the very first books about astronomy. This made it easier for scientists to share their discoveries.

His Lasting Impact

Bernhard Walther's work was so important that a crater on the Moon is named after him. It is called Walther. This shows how much he contributed to the study of space.

Works and Collections

• Regiomontanus, Johannes: Opera Collectanea. Osnabrück: Otto Zeller 1972 (This book includes some of Bernhard Walther's observations).