1663 in science

Astronomy

• Scottish mathematician James Gregory publishes Optica Promota, describing theoretically the Gregorian telescope.

Exploration

• March 4 – The Prince Edward Islands in the sub-antarctic Indian Ocean are discovered by Barent Barentszoon Lam of the Dutch ship Maerseveen and named Dina (Prince Edward) and Maerseveen (Marion).

Mathematics

• The first book about games of chance, Girolamo Cardano's Liber de ludo aleae ("On Casting the Die"), written in the 1560s, is published.

Meteorology

• October 7 – Robert Hooke presents his "Method for making a history of the weather" to the Royal Society of London.

Technology

• The earliest known surviving clock with an anchor escapement is made by William Clement in England.

Publications

• Robert Boyle publishes Considerations touching the Usefulness of Experimental Natural Philosophy (first part).

Births

• August 31 – Guillaume Amontons, French scientific instrument inventor and physicist (died 1705)

Deaths

• December 28 – Francesco Maria Grimaldi, Italian physicist (born 1618)

References

References

1. Leupe, Pieter Arend Leupe (1868). "De eilanden Dina en Maerseveen in den Zuider Atlantischen Oceaan" in: ''Verhandelingen en berigten betrekkelijk het zeewezen, de zeevaartkunde, de hydrographie, de koloniën en de daarmede in verband staande wetenschappen'', Deel 28, Afd. 2, [no.] 9 (Amsterdam) pp. 242–253.
2. Katz, V. J.. (2009). "A History of Mathematics: An Introduction". Pearson Education.
3. Espinasse, Margaret. (1956). "Robert Hooke". Heinemann.
4. Reid, Thomas. (1832). "Treatise on Clock and Watch-making, Theoretical and Practical". Carey & Lea.
5. Beckett, Edmund. (1874). "A Rudimentary Treatise on Clocks and Watches and Bells". Lockwood.
6. Usher, Abbott Payson. (1988). "A History of Mechanical Inventions". Courier Dover.
7. (2024-03-28). "Museum of Time...". Irish Independent.