1659 in science

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

List of years in science (table)
… 1649 1650 1651 1652 1653 1654 1655 1656 1657 1658 1659 1660 1661 1662 1663 1664 1665 1666 1667 1668 1669 …
Art Archaeology Architecture Literature Music Philosophy Science +...

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.
• 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)