Aportaciones astronómicas y geodésicas de Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638)

Abstract

It is not known for sure where W.J. Blaeu was born, although it seems certain that it was in the city of Alkmaar or its surroundings. When he was very young he moved to Amsterdam. His interest in mathematics and astronomy came to the fore very early, an interest he would see satisfied during his stay at the observatory on the Danish island of Hven, directed by Tycho Brahe, from the end of 1595 until May 27, 1596. The time in which W. Blaeu was a disciple of T. Brahe was extremely profitable, since he applied the acquired knowledge in the construction of numerous globes, celestial and terrestrial, of different diameters, as well as in the formation of maps and plans. His prolific scientific activity made him an obligatory reference in the mathematical geography of the 17th century, the century of atlases or the golden age of Dutch cartography.