1531 in science

Astronomy

• Halley's Comet makes its only appearance this century.

  Earth sciences

• January 26 – Lisbon, Portugal, is hit by an earthquake.

  Technology

• Autumn – Kõpu Lighthouse first lit on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa; it will remain in continuous use into the 21st century.

  Births

• June 1 – János Zsámboky, Hungarian physician and scholar
• Agostino Ramelli, Italian engineer

  Deaths

• February 16 – Johannes Stöffler, German mathematician
• March 28 − Nicholas Leonicus Thomaeus, Italian scholar an dprofessor of philosophy
• prob. date – Antonio Pigafetta, Italian circumnavigator