Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity is published.
3
55 years ago, in 1904:
At the Lick Observatory, Charles D. Perrine discovers Himalia, the largest irregular satellite of Jupiter.
1 year ago, in 1958:
Control of JPL is transferred from the US Army to NASA.
4
1 year ago, in 1958:
Intended for a lunar impact, the Soviets launch Luna E-1 No.3 (Luna 1958C), but the rocket disintegrates 245 seconds after launch due to a hydrogen peroxide pump seizure.
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169 years ago, in 1790:
William Herschel discovers NGC 12, a spiral galaxy in the Pisces constellation.
2 years ago, in 1957:
Vanguard TV-3, the first U.S. attempt to launch a satellite into orbit, blows up just four feet after lift-off.
1 year ago, in 1958:
Pioneer 3 is launched for a lunar orbit, but fails and burns up in Earths atmosphere.
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10
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12
13
1 year ago, in 1958:
A Jupiter IRBM is launched with a South American squirrel monkey named Gordo on board, but the parachute fails to open and Gordo and the craft are lost at sea.
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15
168 years ago, in 1791:
Caroline Herschel discovers her fifth comet, Comet C/1791 X1 (Herschel).
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17
56 years ago, in 1903:
The Wright brothers make the first powered flight.
2 years ago, in 1957:
The U.S. successfully test-fires the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time.
18
1 year ago, in 1958:
Project SCORE is launched by DARPA, becoming the world’s first communications satellite.
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176 years ago, in 1783:
Thinking it to be a globular cluster, William Herschel discovers the spiral galaxy NGC 2775 in the constellation of Cancer.
20
59 years ago, in 1900:
Michel Giacobini discovers comet Giacobini–Zinner, which was later a target for the ICE spacecraft.
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171 years ago, in 1788:
Caroline Herschel discovers her second comet, Comet 35P/Herschel-Rigollet.
22
991 years ago, in 968:
The first clear description of the corona seen during a total eclipse is given by a chronicler in Constantinople.
23
287 years ago, in 1672:
Giovanni Cassini discovers one of Saturn's moons, Rhea.
This year:
The maiden flight of the Soviet R-7A Semyorka ICBM is successfully launched.
It's been 3966 days
