Polymath Prof. Wilhelm Schickard (1592-1635): Inventor of the mechanical calculating machine and the world’s first academic UFO-witness and investigator

Abstract

Dear Editor, with this letter I would like to point out the early results of my research into the so far little known UFO/UAP-sighting of one of the most famous German polymaths, contemporary and befriended astronomy-colleague of Johannes Kepler, Wilhelm Schickard (1592–1635). This sighting was so far undescribed even in most of UFO research literature. Not only holds the sighting itself many fascinating parallels to modern days UFO encounters; almost 400 years old, the account most likely represents the world’s first and earliest form of a detailed description and discussion of a UAP-sighting by a full and respected academic. The German government just honored Schickard with a special 20-Euro collector’s coin that celebrates the 400th anniversary of his invention of the first mechanical counting machine. Less known, if known at all, is the fact that Professor Schickard could be rightfully considered the first academic UFO/UAP researcher in history. The observation he encountered and described also set himself up for vehement criticism and outrage from his colleagues through his advocacy for the most precise description of the “miraculous sign” he observed and described in 1630.