Kaspar Uttenhofer (1588 – 31 May 1621) was a German astronomer.[1][2] He wrote various books, the most renowned is the Pes mechanicus in which the author explained how to easily build a sundial.

Kaspar Uttenhofer
Born1588
DiedMay 3, 1621(1621-05-03) (aged 32–33)
NationalityGerman
Occupationastronomer
Circinus geometricus zu Teutsch Mess-Circkel, 1626

Life

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Kaspar Uttenhofer was born in Nuremberg in 1588, the seventh son of the second marriage of Georg Uttenhofer, a tailor. His father died on January 9, 1563, leaving the family in good economic conditions. One of his brothers was Anthoni Uttenhofer (1542-1609), an artist specialized in etching.[3]

Little is known about his personal life other than he was self-taught.[4] According to the mathematician Daniel Schwenter, Uttenhofer devoted most of his life to improving his knowledge.[4]

Uttenhofer wrote various books, the most renowned is probably the Pes mechanicus in which the author explained how to easily build a sundial. He also wrote the Judicium de nupero Cometa astrologico-historicum after spotting comet (C/1618 W1) in the Boötes constellation.[5]

He died in his home city of Nuremberg in 1621.

Selected works

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  • Pes Mechanicus. Oder Werckschuh/ Das ist: Ein gar leuchte Weise/ allerley gemeine Sonnen-Uhren auß einem außgetheilten Werckschuch zu machen Nürnberg: Halbmayer, 1615
  • Judicium de nupero Cometa Astrologo Historicum. Kurzer Bericht und Erklärung / Was von dem neuen Cometen / oder geschwentzten Stern / so sich dieses zu endlauffenden 1618. Jars [...]zuhalten. Nürnberg: Simon Halbmayer, 1619
  • Circinus geometricus zu Teutsch Mess-Circkel (in German). Nürmberg: Simon Halbmayern. 1626.

References

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  1. ^ "Uttenhofer, Caspar". thesaurus.cerl.org. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  2. ^ Manfred H. Grieb, Norimberga elenco degli Artisti, artigiani, studiosi, 2007 Monaco, K.G. Saur Verlag, voce Uttenhofer Kaspar pag. 1569 ISBN 978-3-598-11763-3 (Set)
  3. ^ "Caspar Uttenhofer" (in German).
  4. ^ a b "Caspar Uttenhofer" (in German).
  5. ^ "Kaspar Uttenhofer".