The Italian astronomer Giovanni Donati discovers Comet Donati (C/1858 L1), the first comet to be photographed.
5 years ago, in 1954:
The Soviet dogs Lisa and Ryzhik are launched aboard an R1 to an altitude of 100km (60mi), and survive.
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7 years ago, in 1952:
The Abee meteorite lands in Alberta, Canada; the only enstatite chondrite with petrologic type 4 ever found.
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11 years ago, in 1948:
The first primate astronaut, a rhesus macaque named Albert, is launched aboard a U.S. launched V-2, but dies of suffocation in flight.
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140 years ago, in 1819:
Jean Louis Pons is the first 'discoverer' of comet 7P/Pons–Winnecke.
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189 years ago, in 1770:
Charles Messier discovers Comet D/1770 L1, also known as Lexell's Comet after its orbit computer, Anders Lexell.
10 years ago, in 1949:
Albert II becomes the first monkey in space aboard a U.S. launched V-2, but dies on impact after the parachute fails.
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153 years ago, in 1806:
Jose Joaquin de Ferrer (Spain), observing at Kinderhook, New York, gives the name corona to the glow of the faint outer atmosphere of the Sun seen during a total eclipse.
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This year:
Intended for a lunar impact, the Soviets launch Luna E-1A No.1 (Luna 1959A), but the guidance system fails and the rocket is destroyed by ground command 152 seconds after launch.
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15 years ago, in 1944:
A German V-2 rocket becomes the first vehicle to cross the Kármán line, the border at which outer space begins.
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229 years ago, in 1730:
Charles Messier is born in Badonviller, France.
32 years ago, in 1927:
Comet 7P/Pons–Winnecke approaches within 0.0394 AUs of Earth.
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1 year ago, in 1958:
Explorer 3 burns up in the atmosphere.
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48 years ago, in 1911:
The Nakhla meteorite, the prototypical example of the Nakhlite type meteorite of the SNC Group of Mars meteorites, falls to Earth in the Abu Hommos district in Egypt.
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51 years ago, in 1908:
The 'Tunguska Event' occurs when a meteor explodes over the Tunguska River in Siberia, Russia.
It's been 3966 days
