In what year did Ole Rømer make his first measurement of the speed of light?
1676
1654
1701
1683
Answer
In 1676, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer made the first successful measurement of the speed of light. By observing the eclipses of Jupiter's moons, Rømer noticed that the time between eclipses varied depending on the position of Earth in its orbit around the Sun. He correctly inferred that this variation was due to the finite speed of light, and calculated its value to be approximately 225,000 kilometers per second.
Stargazing Through Time: The Ole Rømer Astronomical Challenge
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