Tycho Brahe (1546 – 1601). In his time Tycho was also well-known as an alchemist. The last of the great "naked-eye" astronomers, working before the invention of the telescope, he coined the term "nova" for new stars (now known to be exploding stars). He lost part of his nose in a duel and wore a brass prosthetic nose. And he had a pet Eurasian elk, Scandinavia’s moose.