Thomas Harriot #OnThisDay

On 26th of July 1609 English mathematician and astronomer Thomas Harriot drew the first map of the Moon by observing it through a telescope. This was 4 months before that of Galileo.  He was the first to make telescopic observations in England.

Harriot Lunar Map

Born in 1560 Harriot was an extraordinary mathematician and founded the English school of algebra.

This was also the great age of sea voyages and his work producing navigational maps was invaluable to the English setting out to discover trade routes and lands unknown to them.

There is an excellent account of his work here: Thomas Harriot

 

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