1597 in science

The year 1597 in science and technology involved some significant events.

• Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman define 12 southern constellations (1595–1597), introduced later by Johann Bayer in the 1603 text Uranometria: Apus, Chamaeleon, Dorado, Grus, Hydrus, Indus, Musca, Pavo, Phoenix, Triangulum Australe, Tucana, Volans.

• John Gerard's The Herball, or generall historie of plantes published in London.

• Andreas Libavius's chemistry textbook Alchemia published.^[1]

• April 13 – Giovanni Battista Hodierna, Italian astronomer (died 1660)
• Henry Gellibrand, English mathematician (died 1637)

• February 6 – Franciscus Patricius (born Franjo Petriš), Venetian philosopher and scientist of Croatian descent (born 1529)
• June 20 – Willem Barentsz, Dutch explorer (born c. 1550) (at sea)