Petrus Plancius: The Inventor of the Celestial Jigsaw Puzzle

Petrus Plancius (1552 – 1622) was a Flemish astronomer, cartographer, and clergyman who is best known for his creation of the “celestial jigsaw puzzle.”

Plancius was born in Belgium, and from an early age, he showed an interest in the stars. While his peers were out playing field hockey, Plancius was busy charting the constellations and developing new methods for measuring celestial positions.

Plancius’s greatest achievement was his invention of the celestial jigsaw puzzle, which was a game that involved fitting various pieces of the night sky together to form constellations. The game was an instant hit and became all the rage in the court of the Dutch Republic during the late 16th century.

Plancius’s game was so popular that it eventually caught the attention of King Phillip of Spain, who invited the astronomer to Madrid to demonstrate his creation. Plancius was hesitant to accept the invitation, as he knew that Spain was at war with his homeland. However, he eventually relented and made the journey to the Spanish court.

Upon his arrival in Madrid, Plancius was greeted with much fanfare, but he soon discovered that the Spanish were not interested in his celestial jigsaw puzzle. Instead, they wanted to use his expertise to help improve their navigational techniques.

Plancius was initially reluctant to assist the Spanish, but he eventually agreed to help them in exchange for his safe return to the Dutch Republic. Using his knowledge of the stars, Plancius helped the Spanish to develop more accurate maps for their explorers, which contributed to their dominance as a naval power during the 17th century.

Despite his contributions to the Spanish, Plancius remained loyal to his homeland and eventually returned to the Dutch Republic, where he continued to develop new innovations in astronomy and cartography. He died in 1622, but his legacy lives on through his creation of the celestial jigsaw puzzle and his contributions to the development of navigation techniques.

In conclusion, Petrus Plancius may have been a serious astronomer and cartographer, but he will always be remembered as the inventor of the celestial jigsaw puzzle – a game that brought joy to many and helped to shape the course of history.