1612 in science

Astronomy

• The first description of the Andromeda Galaxy based on observations by telescope is given by Simon Marius.
• December 28 – Galileo observes the planet Neptune for the first time when it is in conjunction with Jupiter, but mistakenly catalogues it as a fixed star because of its extremely slow motion along the ecliptic, and it will not be properly identified until 1846.

Medicine

• Santorio Sanctorius puts the thermometer to medical use.

Births

• approx. date – William Gascoigne, English inventor (died 1644)

Deaths

• February – John Gerard, English herbalist (born c. 1545)
• February 6 – Christopher Clavius, German mathematician and astronomer (born 1537)
• February 12 – Jodocus Hondius, Flemish cartographer (born 1563)
• November 20 – Sir John Harington, English inventor (born 1561)

References

References

1. "Andromeda Galaxy".
2. "Santorio Santorio – Italian physician".
3. (2009). "The Sun Recorded Through History". Springer Science & Business Media.
4. "John Gerard – English herbalist and author".
5. "The Galileo Project".
6. "Jodocus Hondius".
7. "Sir John Harington – English author".