@beyondearthsky.bsky.social
Reality observer. Astronomy and sci-fi fan. Amateur historian.
My Blogs: https://beyondearthsky.blogspot.com
https://thisdayinspace.blogspot.com/
My Blogs: https://beyondearthsky.blogspot.com
https://thisdayinspace.blogspot.com/
Pinned
View of the Earth as seen by the Apollo 17 crew traveling toward the Moon on Dec. 7, 1972. This translunar coast photograph extends from the Mediterranean Sea area to the Antarctica south polar ice cap. This is the first time the Apollo trajectory made it possible to photograph the south polar cap.
#OTD in 2003: the Space Shuttle orbiter OV-102 Columbia, on mission STS-107, disintegrated as it reentered the atmosphere, killing all seven crew members. The disaster was caused by the breach in the Thermal Protection System on the leading edge of the orbiter's left wing sustained during launch.
February 1, 2026 at 10:01 PM
#OTD in 2003: the Space Shuttle orbiter OV-102 Columbia, on mission STS-107, disintegrated as it reentered the atmosphere, killing all seven crew members. The disaster was caused by the breach in the Thermal Protection System on the leading edge of the orbiter's left wing sustained during launch.
#OTD in 1958, Explorer 1 was launched on an adapted Jupiter C (also called Juno I) rocket from the Cape Canaveral Missile Test Center, becoming the first U.S. satellite. It was the first spacecraft to detect the Van Allen radiation belt.
February 1, 2026 at 9:56 PM
#OTD in 1958, Explorer 1 was launched on an adapted Jupiter C (also called Juno I) rocket from the Cape Canaveral Missile Test Center, becoming the first U.S. satellite. It was the first spacecraft to detect the Van Allen radiation belt.
#OTD in 1971, Apollo 14, carrying a crew of three astronauts: Mission commander Alan B. Shepard Jr., Command Module pilot Stuart A. Roosa, and Lunar Module pilot Edgar D. Mitchell, lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center, to begin the third crewed mission to land on the Moon.
January 31, 2026 at 10:25 PM
#OTD in 1971, Apollo 14, carrying a crew of three astronauts: Mission commander Alan B. Shepard Jr., Command Module pilot Stuart A. Roosa, and Lunar Module pilot Edgar D. Mitchell, lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center, to begin the third crewed mission to land on the Moon.
#OTD in 1961, Mercury-Redstone 2 was launched on a suborbital flight from Cape Canaveral. The capsule carried a chimpanzee named Ham, the first hominid in space. The capsule and Ham landed safely in the Atlantic Ocean 16 minutes and 39 seconds after launch.
January 31, 2026 at 10:18 PM
#OTD in 1961, Mercury-Redstone 2 was launched on a suborbital flight from Cape Canaveral. The capsule carried a chimpanzee named Ham, the first hominid in space. The capsule and Ham landed safely in the Atlantic Ocean 16 minutes and 39 seconds after launch.
#OTD in 1862, American telescope-maker and astronomer Alvan Graham Clark made the first observation of Sirius B while testing a new 18.5-inch aperture telescope. Sirius B is the nearest known white dwarf, at 8.6 light years from the Sun. Its existence was deduced in 1844 by Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel.
January 31, 2026 at 10:06 PM
#OTD in 1862, American telescope-maker and astronomer Alvan Graham Clark made the first observation of Sirius B while testing a new 18.5-inch aperture telescope. Sirius B is the nearest known white dwarf, at 8.6 light years from the Sun. Its existence was deduced in 1844 by Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel.
#OTD in 1996, comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2) was discovered by a Japanese amateur astronomer Yuji Hyakutake. The comet passed Earth at a distance of 15 million km on March 25, 1996. It was very bright in the night sky and was widely visible around the world.
January 30, 2026 at 10:04 PM
#OTD in 1996, comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2) was discovered by a Japanese amateur astronomer Yuji Hyakutake. The comet passed Earth at a distance of 15 million km on March 25, 1996. It was very bright in the night sky and was widely visible around the world.
"Fobos is following Phobos" – painting by Andrei Sokolov and Alexei Leonov from 1988 depicts the planned laser probing of the Martian moon Phobos by a Soviet Fobos spacecraft.
#OTD in 1989, Fobos 2 entered orbit around Mars. The mission ended prematurely before a close (50 m) approach to the moon.
#OTD in 1989, Fobos 2 entered orbit around Mars. The mission ended prematurely before a close (50 m) approach to the moon.
January 29, 2026 at 7:42 PM
"Fobos is following Phobos" – painting by Andrei Sokolov and Alexei Leonov from 1988 depicts the planned laser probing of the Martian moon Phobos by a Soviet Fobos spacecraft.
#OTD in 1989, Fobos 2 entered orbit around Mars. The mission ended prematurely before a close (50 m) approach to the moon.
#OTD in 1989, Fobos 2 entered orbit around Mars. The mission ended prematurely before a close (50 m) approach to the moon.
40 years ago #OTD, a catastrophic structural failure 73 seconds after liftoff of the Space Shuttle, mission STS-51-L, destroyed the orbiter OV-099 Challenger and killed all seven crew members:
January 28, 2026 at 9:35 PM
40 years ago #OTD, a catastrophic structural failure 73 seconds after liftoff of the Space Shuttle, mission STS-51-L, destroyed the orbiter OV-099 Challenger and killed all seven crew members:
Reposted
#OTD in 1967, a cabin fire inside the Apollo Command Module 012 during a practice session for the first manned Apollo flight AS-204 (renamed as Apollo 1) killed all three prime crew members - command pilot Virgil Ivan “Gus” Grissom, senior pilot Edward Higgins White, II and pilot Roger Bruce Chaffee
January 27, 2025 at 2:37 PM
#OTD in 1967, a cabin fire inside the Apollo Command Module 012 during a practice session for the first manned Apollo flight AS-204 (renamed as Apollo 1) killed all three prime crew members - command pilot Virgil Ivan “Gus” Grissom, senior pilot Edward Higgins White, II and pilot Roger Bruce Chaffee
Reposted
#OTD: 26 January 1978, the ESA/NASA International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) was launched from Cape Canaveral. In operation for over 14 years, IUE was one of the longest-lived and most productive satellites ever built 🧪🔭
👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
January 26, 2026 at 10:04 PM
#OTD: 26 January 1978, the ESA/NASA International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) was launched from Cape Canaveral. In operation for over 14 years, IUE was one of the longest-lived and most productive satellites ever built 🧪🔭
👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
Reposted
The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), the first space telescope to perform an all-sky survey at infrared wavelengths, was launched #OTD in 1983. It was a joint project of the NASA, UK and the Netherlands. During its mission IRAS detected over 370,000 infrared sources.
January 26, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), the first space telescope to perform an all-sky survey at infrared wavelengths, was launched #OTD in 1983. It was a joint project of the NASA, UK and the Netherlands. During its mission IRAS detected over 370,000 infrared sources.
Reposted
The 200-inch (5.08 m) Hale Telescope at the Palomar Observatory had its first light #OTD in 1949. It was the world's largest telescope from 1949 to 1976 (the largest effective telescope until 1993), and is still in active use.
January 26, 2025 at 7:53 PM
The 200-inch (5.08 m) Hale Telescope at the Palomar Observatory had its first light #OTD in 1949. It was the world's largest telescope from 1949 to 1976 (the largest effective telescope until 1993), and is still in active use.
Mars Exploration Rover – B (Opportunity) landed in Meridiani Planum on the surface of Mars #OTD in 2004, embarking on a more than 14-year mission. The total distance driven by the rover was 45.16 km and the last communication with it was on June 10, 2018.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/expl...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/expl...
January 25, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Mars Exploration Rover – B (Opportunity) landed in Meridiani Planum on the surface of Mars #OTD in 2004, embarking on a more than 14-year mission. The total distance driven by the rover was 45.16 km and the last communication with it was on June 10, 2018.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/expl...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/expl...
Reposted
Clementine, the first U.S. lunar spacecraft since 1973, was launched #OTD in 1994. It was designed to test sensors and spacecraft components for the DOD’s program for the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), and to study the Moon and the near-Earth asteroid 1620 Geographos.
January 25, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Clementine, the first U.S. lunar spacecraft since 1973, was launched #OTD in 1994. It was designed to test sensors and spacecraft components for the DOD’s program for the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), and to study the Moon and the near-Earth asteroid 1620 Geographos.
#OTD in 1986, Voyager 2 flew by Uranus within 81,500 km of the planet's cloudtops. The probe discovered new rings, eleven previously unknown moons, and a magnetic field tilted at 55° off-axis and off-center.
Image: @ddavisspaceart.bsky.social for NASA.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/voya...
Image: @ddavisspaceart.bsky.social for NASA.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/voya...
January 24, 2026 at 9:49 PM
#OTD in 1986, Voyager 2 flew by Uranus within 81,500 km of the planet's cloudtops. The probe discovered new rings, eleven previously unknown moons, and a magnetic field tilted at 55° off-axis and off-center.
Image: @ddavisspaceart.bsky.social for NASA.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/voya...
Image: @ddavisspaceart.bsky.social for NASA.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/voya...
Artist's impression of Pioneer 10 looking back on the inner Solar System while on its way to interstellar space. The last radio signal from the spacecraft was received #OTD in 2003. It was then 12.23 billion km from Earth.
Credit: @ddavisspaceart.bsky.social, acrylic on board for NASA Ames
Credit: @ddavisspaceart.bsky.social, acrylic on board for NASA Ames
January 23, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Artist's impression of Pioneer 10 looking back on the inner Solar System while on its way to interstellar space. The last radio signal from the spacecraft was received #OTD in 2003. It was then 12.23 billion km from Earth.
Credit: @ddavisspaceart.bsky.social, acrylic on board for NASA Ames
Credit: @ddavisspaceart.bsky.social, acrylic on board for NASA Ames
Reposted
#OTD in 1968, Apollo 5, the uncrewed first flight of the Apollo Lunar Module, that would later carry astronauts to the lunar surface, was launched. The mission verified the ascent and descent stage propulsion systems, including restart and throttle operations of the Lunar Module.
January 22, 2025 at 6:11 PM
#OTD in 1968, Apollo 5, the uncrewed first flight of the Apollo Lunar Module, that would later carry astronauts to the lunar surface, was launched. The mission verified the ascent and descent stage propulsion systems, including restart and throttle operations of the Lunar Module.
Crab Nebula.
Soviet space art by Andrei Sokolov (1931-2007).
Soviet space art by Andrei Sokolov (1931-2007).
January 21, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Crab Nebula.
Soviet space art by Andrei Sokolov (1931-2007).
Soviet space art by Andrei Sokolov (1931-2007).
At the Paris Air Show in June 1965, Yuri Gagarin, left, meets American astronauts Edward H. White and James A. McDivitt, as Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and French President Georges Pompidou look on.
January 21, 2026 at 6:07 PM
At the Paris Air Show in June 1965, Yuri Gagarin, left, meets American astronauts Edward H. White and James A. McDivitt, as Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and French President Georges Pompidou look on.
#OTD in 1930, Buzz Aldrin, born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr., was born. During Gemini XII mission he completed three spacewalks. As the LM pilot on the Apollo 11 mission, he and Neil Armstrong were the first two people to land on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/buzz...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/buzz...
January 20, 2026 at 10:23 PM
#OTD in 1930, Buzz Aldrin, born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr., was born. During Gemini XII mission he completed three spacewalks. As the LM pilot on the Apollo 11 mission, he and Neil Armstrong were the first two people to land on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/buzz...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2026/01/buzz...
Reposted
We’re sad to report the passing of former ESA Director of Science Prof. Roger-Maurice Bonnet on 19 January 2026, aged 88.
🔗 esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
@cmundell.esa.int @science.esa.int @josefaschbacher.esa.int
🔗 esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
@cmundell.esa.int @science.esa.int @josefaschbacher.esa.int
January 20, 2026 at 9:27 PM
We’re sad to report the passing of former ESA Director of Science Prof. Roger-Maurice Bonnet on 19 January 2026, aged 88.
🔗 esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
@cmundell.esa.int @science.esa.int @josefaschbacher.esa.int
🔗 esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
@cmundell.esa.int @science.esa.int @josefaschbacher.esa.int
#OTD in 2024, Japanese Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft landed near Shioli crater on the Moon. Despite an engine failure that caused it to land on its side at a 90-degree angle, the spacecraft survived three lunar nights.
thisdayinspace.blogspot.com/2026/01/janu...
#OTD in 2024, Japanese Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft landed near Shioli crater on the Moon. Despite an engine failure that caused it to land on its side at a 90-degree angle, the spacecraft survived three lunar nights.
thisdayinspace.blogspot.com/2026/01/janu...
January 19, 2026 at 9:19 PM
#OTD in 2024, Japanese Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft landed near Shioli crater on the Moon. Despite an engine failure that caused it to land on its side at a 90-degree angle, the spacecraft survived three lunar nights.
thisdayinspace.blogspot.com/2026/01/janu...
#OTD in 2024, Japanese Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft landed near Shioli crater on the Moon. Despite an engine failure that caused it to land on its side at a 90-degree angle, the spacecraft survived three lunar nights.
thisdayinspace.blogspot.com/2026/01/janu...
Reposted
#OTD in 2006, New Horizons, the first spacecraft to explore the dwarf planet Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, was launched. It flew by Jupiter in February 2007, Pluto on July 14, 2015, and the Kuiper belt object Arrokoth on January 1, 2019.
January 19, 2025 at 5:16 PM
#OTD in 2006, New Horizons, the first spacecraft to explore the dwarf planet Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, was launched. It flew by Jupiter in February 2007, Pluto on July 14, 2015, and the Kuiper belt object Arrokoth on January 1, 2019.
Reposted
#OTD 18 January 2005, the moon Mimas against the blue backdrop of Saturn as seen by the NASA/ESA/ASI Cassini spacecraft 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
#Space #SpaceHistory @science.esa.int
www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
#Space #SpaceHistory @science.esa.int
January 18, 2026 at 6:58 PM
#OTD 18 January 2005, the moon Mimas against the blue backdrop of Saturn as seen by the NASA/ESA/ASI Cassini spacecraft 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
#Space #SpaceHistory @science.esa.int
www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
#Space #SpaceHistory @science.esa.int
#OTD in 2000, a large meteoroid, about 4 meters in diameter, exploded in the atmosphere over the Tagish Lake area in British Columbia, with an energy release of 1.7 kilotons of TNT. Meteorite fragments classified as carbonaceous chondrite were collected.
thisdayinspace.blogspot.com/2026/01/janu...
thisdayinspace.blogspot.com/2026/01/janu...
On This Day in Space Exploration
January 18 18 January 2000 Artist's depiction of the Tagish Lake fireball. Credit: The Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Universit...
thisdayinspace.blogspot.com
January 18, 2026 at 9:07 PM
#OTD in 2000, a large meteoroid, about 4 meters in diameter, exploded in the atmosphere over the Tagish Lake area in British Columbia, with an energy release of 1.7 kilotons of TNT. Meteorite fragments classified as carbonaceous chondrite were collected.
thisdayinspace.blogspot.com/2026/01/janu...
thisdayinspace.blogspot.com/2026/01/janu...