Jan Muscenius, (Jan Muszczeński alias Jan Mucha, 1532 – 21 July 1602) was a Polish astronomer, theologian, and the rector of Kraków Academy (now

Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University (Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...

Life

Jan Muscenius was born in

Kurzelów Kurzelów is a village (from 1285 to 1869 it was a town) in the administrative district of Gmina Włoszczowa, within Włoszczowa County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies in historic Lesser Poland, approximately nort ...

Sandomierz Province The Duchy of Sandomierz was a district principality and a fiefdom of the Kingdom of Poland. It was formed in 1138 from the territories of the Kingdom of Poland, following its fragmentation, that was started by the testament of Bolesław III Wr ...

, and lived in Kraków. He received his primary education in Kurzelow, then continued education in Krakow. In 1550, he enrolled in the Faculty of Liberal Art at the

Kraków Academy The Jagiellonian University (Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...

(now

). In August 1558, he became the head of the Astronomy and Astrology Faculty. From 29 April 1556 to 24 February 1559, he was a rector of the Wawel cathedral school. On 23 September 1558 became the member of the Collegium Minor (Kolegium Mniejszego). Jan Muscenius was four times the rector of the Kraków Academy (1592/1593, 1594/1595, 1599/1600, 1601/1602) Muscenius divided his book collection between Kraków Academy and the collegiate church at Kurzelów. The University of Warsaw Library has 59 beautifully bounded volumes from the Muscenius collection.

Research

On 24 August 1563 and 11 April 1564 together with other astronomers (Piotr Proboszczowic, Mikołaj z Szadka, Stanisław Jakobejusz) from the Krakow Academy observed the Jupiter and

Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius of about nine and a half times that of Earth. It has only one-eighth the average density of Earth; h ...

conjunctions ( Greate conjunction). The observations showed that the mathematical method of the planets position calculation presented by Copernicus in '' De revolutionibus orbium coelestium'' are more accurate than previously used the Alfonsine tables and

Albert Brudzewski Albert Brudzewski, ''also'' Albert Blar (of Brudzewo), Albert of Brudzewo or Wojciech Brudzewski (in Latin, ''Albertus de Brudzewo''; c.1445–c.1497) was a Polish astronomer, mathematician, philosopher and diplomat. Life Albert (in Polish, ...

tables. This result popularised to use the numerical values of the planets position according Copernicus, but not necessary to Copernican heliocentrism. He provided 1649 the pre-instrumental weather condition observations between 1555 and 1568.

Publications

Epigrammata In Lavdem XI. Eximiorvm Ac Ervditorum virorum : dum In Alma Academia Cracovien[si
A. D. III. Eidus Martij Anno CIƆ IƆCI. A [...">i">Epigrammata In Lavdem XI. Eximiorvm Ac Ervditorum virorum : dum In Alma Academia Cracovien[si
A. D. III. Eidus Martij Anno CIƆ IƆCI. A [...Ioanne Muscenio Curzelouio [...] Licentiati in artibus liberalibus & Philosophia [...] crearentur] , published in Kraków, (1601) * Praktyka z Biegow Niebieskich na Rok Panski 1566 * ''Kalendarz Świąt dorocznych y Biegów Niebieskich z wyborami czasów na Rok Pański 1569, pierwszy po Przestępnym przez M. Jana Musceniusa z Kurzelowa, sławnej Nauki Krakowskiey Astrologa, napisany''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muscenius, Jan 16th-century Polish astronomers Polish theologians Rectors of universities in Poland 1532 births 1602 deaths Academic staff of Jagiellonian University Jagiellonian University alumni Rectors of the Jagiellonian University