The observation provided a direct test of a calculated planetary transit.
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Galileo notes three lights beside Jupiter 7 January 1610
He recorded three small points near Jupiter, initially regarding them as background stars.
Jupiter becomes a telescopic puzzle 7 January 1610
The positions of the lights were unusual enough to prompt repeated observations on later nights.
Galileo's observing notes mark a turning point 7 January 1610
His first dated observations began the sequence that established satellites orbiting Jupiter.
New telescope reveals Jupiter's companions 7 January 1610
A more powerful telescope made faint neighboring points visible; recognition of their orbits followed later.
Gassendi observes Mercury cross the Sun 7 November 1631
Pierre Gassendi observed Mercury as a tiny dark dot moving across the solar disk.
👉 Prediction meets a visible transit Current 7 November 1631
The observation provided a direct test of a calculated planetary transit.
Mercury looks smaller than expected 7 November 1631
The apparent size of Mercury on the Sun surprised observers and helped refine ideas about its dimensions.
A telescope records a rare alignment 7 November 1631
The 1631 Mercury transit showed how a projected solar image could support planetary measurements.
Horrocks observes Venus in transit 4 December 1639
Jeremiah Horrocks watched Venus pass in front of the Sun from England.
Crabtree independently sees Venus on the Sun 4 December 1639
William Crabtree also saw the transit from England; the two observers are the earliest documented witnesses.
A predicted transit becomes visible 4 December 1639
Horrocks's calculation enabled the observers to watch a transit missed by earlier forecasts.