Museo Galileo
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Virtual Museum
Johann Richter (Praetorius)
1537-1616

Studied in Wittemberg, where he became professor of mathematics at the University in 1571. In 1576, moved to the University of Altdorf (Nuremberg), where he devoted himself to the construction of mathematical and astronomical instruments. Authored many treatises on mathematical and astronomical topics: instruments, calendar reform, the 1572 nova, and comets. Generally regarded as the inventor of the plane table (mensula praetoriana), a surveying instrument to plot the planimetric outline of a tract of land simultaneously with the surveying operation.

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