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Themes > Science > Physics > Astrophysics > The History of High-Energy Astrophysics > Before 1800 |
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25 Dec 1758 |
Amateur astronomer George Palitzsh observes the return of the comet of 1682 as predicted. The comet is named Halley's Comet (P/Halley) in honor of Sir Edmond Halley. |
1705 |
Sir Edmond Halley notes that the comets observed in 1531, 1607, & 1682 all appear to have similar orbital elements based on Newtonian mechanics. He suggests that they are all the same object and predicts the comet will return in 1758. |
6 Jul 1687 |
Sir Isaac Newton's "Principa Mathematica" published. |
1609 |
Publication of Kepler's "Commentaries on the motions of Mars" which includes Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion. Galileo builds his telescope and discovers the phases of Venus, the Galilean satellites around Jupiter, and sunspots. |
1607 |
Kepler records the appearance and motion of the comet of 1607 (later to be known as Halley's Comet (P/Halley)). |
1604 |
Both Kepler and Galileo observe and record a supernova in Serpens (Ophiuchus in the modern IAU constellations). |
1572 |
Tycho Brahe observes a "new star" in Cassiopeia which initially rivaled Venus in brightness and faded slowly to imperceptability over sixteen months. Astronomers have identified Tycho's Star as a supernova (X-ray/radio source Cas A?). |
1543 |
Publication of Copernicus' "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium" |
1066 |
Norman invasion of England, led by William the Conqueror. The invasion is recorded in the Bayeaux tapestry: among other features, the tapestry records the appearance of Halley's Comet (P/Halley) around the time of the invasion. |
4 Jul 1054 |
Chinese astronomers observe and record the Crab supernova explosion. |
239 B.C. |
First recorded appearance of Halley's Comet (P/Halley). |
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