Ducks in Flight

A small article in the paper today said that the famous astronomer Tycho Brahe's body was being exhumed in an attempt to tell if he was murdered by mercury poisoning. As a child, Tycho was kidnapped by his uncle. His father threatened to kill the uncle until he was assured that Tycho would inherit the uncle's wealth. Tycho had a volatile temperament. He lost his nose in a duel (from then on he wore various prosthesis depending on the occasion). He guarded his observational data from everyone - even from his assistant Johannes Kepler. Kepler's great aunt was burned at the stake as a witch and his mother almost met the same fate. Kepler and Tycho often quarrelled. When Tycho suddenly died, Kepler was promoted to fill his position and got access to Tycho's data. The article I read pointed a finger at Kepler as Tycho's murderer. I doubt it. However, thought I would tell you their colorful history lest you ever think of astronomers as dull.