1978 Event U.N. observes "international day of solidarity with Palestinian people," boycotted by U.S. and about 20 other countries 1836 Event Francis Baily observes "Baily's Beads" during annular solar eclipse 1778 Event David Rittenhouse observes a total solar eclipse in Philadelphia 1758 Event Charles Messier observes Crab Nebula and begins catalog 1753 Event French King Louis XV observes transit of Mercury at Mendon Castle 1715 Event Edmund Halley observes total eclipse phenomenon "Baily's Beads" 1715 Event John Flamsteed observes Uranus for 6th time 1690 Event John Flamsteed observes Uranus without realizing it's undiscovered 1661 Event Johannes Hevelius observes 3rd transit of Mercury ever to be seen 1631 Event Pierre Gassendi observes transit of Mercury predicted by Kepler 1613 Event Galileo observes Neptune but fails to recognize what he sees 1541 Event Hernan de Soto observes 1st recorded flood in America (Mississippi R)
