Valentin Stansel
Encyclopedia
Valentin Stansel was a Czech Jesuit astronomer who worked in Brazil.
, Moravia
. He entered the Society of Jesus
on 1 October 1637, and taught rhetoric and mathematics at University of Olomouc and in Prague
. After being ordained, he requested an appointment to the Jesuit mission in India
, and went to Portugal
to await an opportunity of taking ship for his destination. Meantime, he lectured on astronomy at the college of Évora
. While there, in order to conform to the language of the country, he changed his name to the form "Estancel", in which form it appears on the title pages of most of his published works.
He was unable to procure passage to India, traveling instead to Brazil, where he was attached to the Jesuit College and Seminary of Salvador, Bahia
, as professor of Moral Theology. He also later served as the institution's Superior. At the same time he continued his astronomical work, and made extensive observations, particularly on comet
s, the results of which he was sending to Europe for publication.
On 5 March 1668 Stancel discovered a comet that became known as the Estancel-Gottignies Comet after confirmation of its accurate positions by Jesuit Father F. de Gottignies in Goa
. His observations of the comet of 1668 are mentioned in Newton's
Principia.
Stansel died in Salvador, Bahia
, Brazil.
Biography
Stansel was born in OlomoucOlomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
, Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
. He entered the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
on 1 October 1637, and taught rhetoric and mathematics at University of Olomouc and in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. After being ordained, he requested an appointment to the Jesuit mission in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and went to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
to await an opportunity of taking ship for his destination. Meantime, he lectured on astronomy at the college of Évora
University of Évora
The University of Évora is a public university in Évora, Portugal.-History:The University of Évora, the second oldest in Portugal, was founded in the 16th century by Cardinal Infante Dom Henrique , and by the Pope Paul IV, and it was delivered to the Society of Jesus.The Jesuit college...
. While there, in order to conform to the language of the country, he changed his name to the form "Estancel", in which form it appears on the title pages of most of his published works.
He was unable to procure passage to India, traveling instead to Brazil, where he was attached to the Jesuit College and Seminary of Salvador, Bahia
Salvador, Bahia
Salvador is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The first...
, as professor of Moral Theology. He also later served as the institution's Superior. At the same time he continued his astronomical work, and made extensive observations, particularly on comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
s, the results of which he was sending to Europe for publication.
On 5 March 1668 Stancel discovered a comet that became known as the Estancel-Gottignies Comet after confirmation of its accurate positions by Jesuit Father F. de Gottignies in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. His observations of the comet of 1668 are mentioned in Newton's
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
Principia.
Stansel died in Salvador, Bahia
Salvador, Bahia
Salvador is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The first...
, Brazil.
Chief works
- Dioptra geodetica (Prague, 1652 or 1654)
- Propositiones selenegraphicæ, sive de luna (Olmütz, 1655)
- Orbe Affonsino, horoscopio universal (Évora, 1658)
- Mercurius brasilicus, sive de Coeli et soli brasiliensis oeconomia
- Zodiacus Divini Doloris, sive Orationes XII (Évora, 1675)
- Legatus uranicus ex orbe novo in veterum, h. e. Observationes Americanæ cometarum factæ, concriptæ et in Europam missæ (Prague, 1683)
- Uranophilus coelestis peregrinus, sive mentis Uranicæ per mundum sidereum peregrinantis ecstases (Antwerp and Ghent, 1685)
- Mercurius Brasilicus, sive Cœli et soli brasiliensis oeconomica