1603 in science
The year 1603 in science and technology involved some significant events.
Astronomy
- Johann Bayer publishes the star atlas Uranometria, the first to cover the entire celestial sphere, and introducing a new system of star designation which becomes known as the Bayer designation.
- Dutch explorer Frederick de Houtman publishes his observations of the southern hemisphere constellations.
Exploration
- Acadia, the French colony in North America, is founded.
Mathematics
- Pietro Cataldi finds the sixth and seventh perfect numbers.
Medicine
- Girolamo Fabrici studies leg veins and notices that they have valves which only allow blood to flow toward the heart.
Institutions
- August 17 – Accademia dei Lincei, the oldest scientific academy in the world, is founded in Rome by Federico Cesi.
Births
- September 15 – John Jonston, Polish naturalist and physician
- Blaise Francois Pagan, French military engineer
- Abel Tasman, Dutch explorer