The Italian astronomer Giovanni Donati discovers Comet Donati (C/1858 L1), the first comet to be photographed.
7 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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9 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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13 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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142 years ago, in 1819:
Jean Louis Pons is the first 'discoverer' of comet 7P/Pons–Winnecke.
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191 years ago, in 1770:
Charles Messier discovers Comet D/1770 L1, also known as Lexell's Comet after its orbit computer, Anders Lexell.
12 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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1 year ago, in 1960:
Communication is lost with Tiros 1.
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155 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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2 years ago, in 1959:
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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17 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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1 year ago, in 1960:
SOLRAD 1, the world's first orbiting astronomical observatory, and GRAB 1, America's first intelligence satellite, are launched together.
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231 years ago, in 1730:
Charles Messier is born in Badonviller, France.
34 years ago, in 1927:
Comet 7P/Pons–Winnecke approaches within 0.0394 AUs of Earth.
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3 years ago, in 1958:
Explorer 3 burns up in the atmosphere.
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50 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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This year:
Transit 4A is launched, becoming the first satellite to use a radioactive power source.
This year:
Two hours after separating from the Transit 4-A satellite, the Able Star upper stage becomes the first known artificial object to break up unintentionally in space.
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53 years ago, in 1908:
The 'Tunguska Event' occurs when a meteor explodes over the Tunguska River in Siberia, Russia.
It's been 3965 days
