Editing 1642 in science

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{{Year nav topic5|1642|science}}
{{Science year nav|1642}}

The year '''1642 in [[science]]''' and [[technology]] involved some significant events.

==Astronomy==
* [[Rundetårn]] [[astronomical observatory]] for the [[University of Copenhagen]] is completed, as is also the [[Panzano Observatory]].

==Computing==
* 19-year-old [[Blaise Pascal]] begins to develop the [[Pascaline]], the first practical [[mechanical calculator]], initially to help with the recording of taxes.<ref>{{cite book|title=Histoire des instruments et machines à calculer: trois siècles de mécanique pensante 1642-1942|first=Jean|last=Marguin|year=1994|location=Paris|publisher=Hermann|isbn=978-2-7056-6166-3|page=48}}</ref>

==Exploration==
* November 24 – [[Abel Tasman]], [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[List of explorers|explorer]], is the first European known to sight [[Tasmania]], which he names [[Van Diemen's Land|Anthoonij van Diemenslandt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.map-ra265-s97|title=Isaac Gilsemans Original Chart of the Discovery of Tasmania, 24 Nov. to 5 Dec. 1642|publisher=[[National Library of Australia]]|accessdate=2011-05-19| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629165059/http://nla.gov.au/nla.map-ra265-s97| archivedate=29 June 2011 <!--Added by DASHBot-->}}</ref>
* December 13 – Tasman is the first European known to sight [[New Zealand]].

==Technology==
* Opening throughout of the [[Briare Canal]] in France, the first [[summit level canal]] in Europe built using [[pound lock]]s.
* The printmaking process of [[mezzotint]] is developed by [[Ludwig von Siegen]].

==Births==
* March ''(possible date)'' – [[Seki Takakazu]], [[Japan]]ese [[mathematician]] (died [[1708 in science|1708]])
* December 25 ([[Old Style and New Style dates|OS]]) – [[Isaac Newton]], [[English people|English]] [[polymath]] (died [[1727 in science|1727]])

==Deaths==
* January 8 – [[Galileo Galilei]], [[Italian people|Italian]] [[astronomer]] (born [[1564 in science|1564]])

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1642]]
[[Category:17th century in science]]
[[Category:1640s in science]]