1659 in science explained

The year 1659 in science and technology involved some significant events.

Astronomy

• Christiaan Huygens publishes Systema Saturnium, including the first illustration of the Orion Nebula.

Mathematics

• First known use of the term Abscissa, by Stefano degli Angeli.^[1]
• Swiss mathematician Johann Rahn publishes Teutsche Algebra, containing the first printed use of the 'division sign' (÷, a repurposed obelus variant) as a mathematical symbol for division and of the 'therefore sign' (∴).

Medicine

• Thomas Willis publishes De Febribus.

Physics

• Christiaan Huygens derives the formula for centripedal force.

Births

• February 27 – William Sherard, English botanist (died 1728)
• June 3 – David Gregory, Scottish astronomer (died 1708)

Deaths

• October 10 – Abel Tasman, Dutch explorer (born 1603)

Notes and References

1. According to Moritz Cantor. Web site: Earliest Known Uses of Some of the Words of Mathematics (A). Jeff Miller Web Pages. 2010-11-14. 2011-04-24.