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Notable Astronomical Events
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Mars Rover Spirit Landing/2004 January 4
NASA's Mars Rover Spirit landed successfully on Mars on January 4, 2004, beginning a mission to explore the planet's surface.
Pioneer 10 Passes Neptune/1983 June
In June 1983, Pioneer 10 spacecraft became the first to travel past Neptune, paving the way for distant space exploration.
Juno Mission to Jupiter/2016 July 4
NASA's Juno spacecraft entered Jupiter's orbit on July 4, 2016, to study the planet's composition, gravitational field, and magnetic field.
Great Comet Hyakutake/1996 March
Comet Hyakutake was a spectacularly bright comet, closest to Earth in March 1996, known for its long tail.
Hale-Bopp Comet Perihelion/1997 April 1
Comet Hale-Bopp reached its closest approach to the Sun on April 1, 1997, and was visible to the naked eye for 18 months.
Hubble Space Telescope Launch/1990 April 24
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched on April 24, 1990, providing unprecedented clear images and data on distant celestial bodies.
Solar Eclipse/1999 August 11
A total solar eclipse occurred on August 11, 1999. Observed across Europe and Asia, it was one of the most-viewed eclipses in history.
The Carrington Event/1859
The Carrington Event was a powerful geomagnetic storm on September 1, 1859, caused by a solar flare, affecting telegraph systems and producing auroras.
New Horizons Pluto Flyby/2015 July 14
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft conducted a flyby of Pluto on July 14, 2015, offering the first close-up images and data of the dwarf planet.
LIGO Gravitational Wave Detection/2015 September 14
The first direct detection of gravitational waves was made on September 14, 2015, by LIGO, confirming a key prediction of Einstein's general theory of relativity.
Discovery of Charon/1978 June 22
Charon, the largest moon of Pluto, was discovered on June 22, 1978, greatly improving our understanding of the Pluto system.
Kepler Space Observatory Launch/2009 March 7
Kepler Space Observatory launched on March 7, 2009, has greatly contributed to exoplanet discovery with its photometric precision.
Chelyabinsk Meteor/2013 February 15
A meteor exploded in the atmosphere over Chelyabinsk, Russia, on February 15, 2013, causing damage and injuries due to its powerful shockwave.
Parker Solar Probe Launch/2018 August 12
The Parker Solar Probe was launched on August 12, 2018, to study the Sun's outer corona, solar winds, and understand solar dynamics better.
Discovery of Sedna/2003 November 14
The dwarf planet Sedna was discovered on November 14, 2003, known for its highly elliptical orbit and distant location in the Solar System.
Discovery of Eris/2005 July 29
Eris, a dwarf planet larger than Pluto, was discovered on July 29, 2005, leading to questions about what constitutes a planet.
Halley's Comet Last Appearance/1986
Halley's Comet is a short-period comet visible from Earth every 74-79 years and was last seen in 1986.
Total Lunar Eclipse/2021 May 26
A total lunar eclipse occurred on May 26, 2021, resulting in a so-called 'super blood moon' due to its coinciding with a supermoon.
Transit of Venus/2012 June 5-6
The transit of Venus across the Sun's face on June 5-6, 2012 was an event that occurs in pairs 8 years apart but less frequently in a pattern that repeats every 243 years.
Supernova 1987A/1987 February 23
Supernova 1987A was observed on February 23, 1987, in the Large Magellanic Cloud, providing insight into the death of massive stars.
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