1663-1687

Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer who discovered the star Algol's variability (1667). Though failing eyesight prevented him from discerning the regularity or period of variation, Montanari's report to the Royal Society (1671) nevertheless helped undermine the Aristotelian concept of the heavens' immutability. He later discovered another variable star in the constellation Hydra (1672). Montanari also artificially incubated chicks (1657), produced what at the time was the largest moon-map (1662), and successfully transfused blood between animals (1668).