Romer Measures the Speed of Light
1676
The Danish astronomer Ole Romer, observing the eclipses of Jupiter's moons, noticed that the timings varied with the Earth's distance from Jupiter. He correctly concluded that light had a finite speed and estimated it at roughly two hundred thousand kilometers per second, not far from the true value. The ancient assumption that light traveled instantaneously was overturned by careful observation.
In context
Also in 1676 (3 other events on record)
- Leeuwenhoek Sees Microorganisms · Europe · Science
- Death of King Philip · North America · War
- Bacon's Rebellion · North America · Politics
Before and after in Europe
Before and after in Science
Era
Enlightenment (1651–1800), one of 696 events from that era on Saeculum.