Френският  философ, теолог, учен, астроном и математик, Пиер Гасенди, пръв публикува през 1631 година транзитите на планетата Меркурий, а по-късно открива петия спътник на Юпитер. В негова чест един от луните кратери носи неговото име.

Гасенди е роден на 22 януари 1592 година в Шантерсие. Той  критикува схоластиката, изопачената от нея философия на Аристотел и  идеята на Декарт  за вродените идеи. В своето произведение "Система на философията" Гасенди разделя учението си на три части:

- Логика  - в която анализира проблема за истинността на познанието.

-  Физика - в която доказва обективността, несътворимостта и неунищожимостта на пространството и времето. Като приема атомистичната теория, Гасенди  твърди, че Бог е създател на атомите.

- Етика - в  която той  се противопоставя на аскетичния църковен морал и подобно на Епикур  твърди, че "всяко удоволствие е благо само по-себе си. “

Пиер Гасенди умира на 24 октомври 1655 година в Париж.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Автор: Тони