Erasmus Reinhold

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Erasmus Reinhold (October 22, 1511 – February 19, 1553) was a German astronomer and mathematician. He was born and died in Saalfeld, Thuringia, Germany.

He was educated at the University of Wittenberg, where he was first elected dean and later became rector. In 1536 he was appointed professor of higher mathematics by Philipp Melanchthon. In contrast to the limited modern definition, "mathematics" at the time also included applied mathematics, especially astronomy. His colleague, Georg Joachim Rheticus, also studied at Wittenberg and was appointed professor of lower mathematics in 1536.

Reinhold catalogued a large number of stars. His publications on astronomy include a commentary (1542, 1553) on Georg Purbach's Theoricae novae planetarum.

Duke Albert of Brandenburg Prussia supported Reinhold and financed the printing of Reinhold's Prutenicae Tabulae, or Prutenic (Prussian) Tables. These astronomical tables helped to disseminate heliocentrism throughout the Empire. Both Reinholds's Prutenic Tables and Copernicus' studies were the foundation for the Calendar Reform by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.

Reinhold was a member of the Melanchthon Circle, a group of Lutheran mathematicians associated with Melanchthon who were generally friendly to Copernican astronomy.

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