@beyondearthsky.bsky.social
Reality observer. Astronomy and sci-fi fan. Amateur historian.
My Blog: https://beyondearthsky.blogspot.com
My Blog: https://beyondearthsky.blogspot.com
Soviet Luna 17 with Lunokhod 1, the first lunar rover, was launched #OTD in 1970. The spacecraft soft landed on the Moon in Mare Imbrium on November 17. The rover operated for almost ten months, until September 14, 1971, and traveled 9.93 kilometres.
November 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Soviet Luna 17 with Lunokhod 1, the first lunar rover, was launched #OTD in 1970. The spacecraft soft landed on the Moon in Mare Imbrium on November 17. The rover operated for almost ten months, until September 14, 1971, and traveled 9.93 kilometres.
Venus Express, a European orbital mission to Venus aimed at studying the planet's atmosphere and plasma environment, was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome #OTD in 2005. The spacecraft entered orbit around Venus on April 11, 2006. Contact with Venus Express was lost on November 28, 2014.
November 9, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Venus Express, a European orbital mission to Venus aimed at studying the planet's atmosphere and plasma environment, was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome #OTD in 2005. The spacecraft entered orbit around Venus on April 11, 2006. Contact with Venus Express was lost on November 28, 2014.
Pioneer II lunar probe was launched #OTD in 1958, with the ambitious goal of being the first spacecraft to orbit the Moon, but the third stage of the rocket failed to ignite. As a result, the probe reached a maximum altitude of only 1,550 km and burned up in Earth’s atmosphere.
November 8, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Pioneer II lunar probe was launched #OTD in 1958, with the ambitious goal of being the first spacecraft to orbit the Moon, but the third stage of the rocket failed to ignite. As a result, the probe reached a maximum altitude of only 1,550 km and burned up in Earth’s atmosphere.
#OTD in 1895, German scientist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays. His initial report was published on December 28, 1895. For his discovery Röntgen was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/disc...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/disc...
November 8, 2025 at 11:21 PM
#OTD in 1895, German scientist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays. His initial report was published on December 28, 1895. For his discovery Röntgen was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/disc...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/disc...
#OTD in 1631, the first recorded transit of Mercury, that was predicted by Johannes Kepler, was observed in Paris by French theologian, philosopher and astronomer Pierre Gassendi. Mercury turned out to be much smaller than was expected.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/tran...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/tran...
November 7, 2025 at 10:17 PM
#OTD in 1631, the first recorded transit of Mercury, that was predicted by Johannes Kepler, was observed in Paris by French theologian, philosopher and astronomer Pierre Gassendi. Mercury turned out to be much smaller than was expected.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/tran...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/tran...
Lunar Orbiter II, designed primarily to photograph smooth areas of the lunar surface for selection and verification of safe landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo missions, was launched #OTD in 1966.
November 6, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Lunar Orbiter II, designed primarily to photograph smooth areas of the lunar surface for selection and verification of safe landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo missions, was launched #OTD in 1966.
Supernova SN 1572, aka Tycho's Supernova, was a Type Ia supernova in the constellation Cassiopeia, one of eight supernovae visible to the naked eye in historical records. It was first noted by German astronomer Wolfgang Schüler of Wittenberg #OTD in 1572.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/1572...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/1572...
November 6, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Supernova SN 1572, aka Tycho's Supernova, was a Type Ia supernova in the constellation Cassiopeia, one of eight supernovae visible to the naked eye in historical records. It was first noted by German astronomer Wolfgang Schüler of Wittenberg #OTD in 1572.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/1572...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/1572...
#OTD in 2018, Voyager 2 crossed the heliopause at a distance of 119 au from the Sun and became the second human-made object (after Voyager 1) to enter interstellar space.
November 5, 2025 at 10:03 PM
#OTD in 2018, Voyager 2 crossed the heliopause at a distance of 119 au from the Sun and became the second human-made object (after Voyager 1) to enter interstellar space.
The Mars Orbiter Mission, also called Mangalyaan, India's first interplanetary mission, was launched #OTD in 2013. The spacecraft entered orbit around Mars on September 24, 2014. It remained operational until April 2022.
November 5, 2025 at 9:58 PM
The Mars Orbiter Mission, also called Mangalyaan, India's first interplanetary mission, was launched #OTD in 2013. The spacecraft entered orbit around Mars on September 24, 2014. It remained operational until April 2022.
#OTD in 1964 Mariner III spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral to take photos of Mars, but the booster payload shroud failed to separate and the spacecraft's batteries ran out of power after eight hours.
November 5, 2025 at 9:06 PM
#OTD in 1964 Mariner III spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral to take photos of Mars, but the booster payload shroud failed to separate and the spacecraft's batteries ran out of power after eight hours.
#OTD in 2010, Deep Impact spacecraft, as part of the EPOXI mission, flew by comet 103P/Hartley. The spacecraft came within 700 km of the comet, returning detailed photographs of the "peanut" shaped cometary nucleus and several bright jets.
November 4, 2025 at 8:45 PM
#OTD in 2010, Deep Impact spacecraft, as part of the EPOXI mission, flew by comet 103P/Hartley. The spacecraft came within 700 km of the comet, returning detailed photographs of the "peanut" shaped cometary nucleus and several bright jets.
Venera 14, the second of a pair of identical spacecraft consisted of a flyby bus and an attached descent craft, was launched from Baikonur #OTD in 1981. On March 5, 1982, its lander successfully took color panorama from the surface of Venus and directly sampled and analyzed the nearby soil.
November 4, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Venera 14, the second of a pair of identical spacecraft consisted of a flyby bus and an attached descent craft, was launched from Baikonur #OTD in 1981. On March 5, 1982, its lander successfully took color panorama from the surface of Venus and directly sampled and analyzed the nearby soil.
#OTD in 1973, Mariner 10, the first spacecraft to visit Mercury and to perform flybys of two planets, was launched. It flew by Mercury three times and returned the close-up images of Venus and Mercury. It was also the first probe to use a gravity assist.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/mari...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/mari...
November 3, 2025 at 10:08 AM
#OTD in 1973, Mariner 10, the first spacecraft to visit Mercury and to perform flybys of two planets, was launched. It flew by Mercury three times and returned the close-up images of Venus and Mercury. It was also the first probe to use a gravity assist.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/mari...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/11/mari...
#OTD in 1957, Sputnik 2, the world’s second artificial satellite, was launched. It carried the first animal to orbit the Earth — a 3-year-old female dog named Laika. During the fourth orbit, after 5 to 7 hours into the flight, Laika died from overheating.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/10/sput...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/10/sput...
November 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM
#OTD in 1957, Sputnik 2, the world’s second artificial satellite, was launched. It carried the first animal to orbit the Earth — a 3-year-old female dog named Laika. During the fourth orbit, after 5 to 7 hours into the flight, Laika died from overheating.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/10/sput...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/10/sput...
#OTD in 2002, the Stardust spacecraft performed a flyby of the asteroid 5535 Annefrank. The closest approach was 3,078 km. 71 images were taken. The objective of the encounter was to to practice the flyby technique that Stardust later used on comet Wild 2.
November 2, 2025 at 2:45 PM
#OTD in 2002, the Stardust spacecraft performed a flyby of the asteroid 5535 Annefrank. The closest approach was 3,078 km. 71 images were taken. The objective of the encounter was to to practice the flyby technique that Stardust later used on comet Wild 2.
#OTD in 2023, the Lucy spacecraft, on its journey to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, flew by asteroid 152830 Dinkinesh. The closest approach was 430 km. The probe found that Dinkinesh is a close binary system, with the larger object measuring about 790 m and the smaller 220 m.
November 1, 2025 at 9:59 PM
#OTD in 2023, the Lucy spacecraft, on its journey to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, flew by asteroid 152830 Dinkinesh. The closest approach was 430 km. The probe found that Dinkinesh is a close binary system, with the larger object measuring about 790 m and the smaller 220 m.
2060 Chiron, an object between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus and the first known member of a class of objects called centaurs, was discovered by Charles T. Kowal #OTD in 1977. In 1989, a coma was discovered around Chiron, as a result of which it was also designated as a periodic comet, 95P/Chiron.
November 1, 2025 at 9:51 PM
2060 Chiron, an object between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus and the first known member of a class of objects called centaurs, was discovered by Charles T. Kowal #OTD in 1977. In 1989, a coma was discovered around Chiron, as a result of which it was also designated as a periodic comet, 95P/Chiron.
#OTD in 1963, the 305-meter Arecibo Telescope in Puerto Rico, the world's largest single-aperture radio telescope for 53 years, saw its first light. It was primarily used for research in radio astronomy, atmospheric science, radar astronomy, and SETI. In 2020, the telescope structure collapsed.
November 1, 2025 at 9:44 PM
#OTD in 1963, the 305-meter Arecibo Telescope in Puerto Rico, the world's largest single-aperture radio telescope for 53 years, saw its first light. It was primarily used for research in radio astronomy, atmospheric science, radar astronomy, and SETI. In 2020, the telescope structure collapsed.
Mars 1, the first spacecraft sent by any nation to fly past Mars, was launched from Baikonur #OTD in 1962. It was the first spacecraft to fly by Mars on June 19, 1963, although communications had been lost in March, before it reached the planet.
November 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Mars 1, the first spacecraft sent by any nation to fly past Mars, was launched from Baikonur #OTD in 1962. It was the first spacecraft to fly by Mars on June 19, 1963, although communications had been lost in March, before it reached the planet.
#OTD in 1917, the 100-inch (2.5 m) Hooker Telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory, the world's largest telescope from 1917 to 1949, saw its first light. It was used by Edwin Hubble to make observations that produced fundamental results changing the scientific view of the Universe.
November 1, 2025 at 8:36 PM
#OTD in 1917, the 100-inch (2.5 m) Hooker Telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory, the world's largest telescope from 1917 to 1949, saw its first light. It was used by Edwin Hubble to make observations that produced fundamental results changing the scientific view of the Universe.
There is a "Halloween Moon" in orbit around Saturn.
The discovery of Pandora (Saturn XVII) was published on Halloween #OTD in 1980, by the Voyager Imaging Science Team. The moon orbits just outside the F Ring of the planet.
The discovery of Pandora (Saturn XVII) was published on Halloween #OTD in 1980, by the Voyager Imaging Science Team. The moon orbits just outside the F Ring of the planet.
October 31, 2025 at 10:25 PM
There is a "Halloween Moon" in orbit around Saturn.
The discovery of Pandora (Saturn XVII) was published on Halloween #OTD in 1980, by the Voyager Imaging Science Team. The moon orbits just outside the F Ring of the planet.
The discovery of Pandora (Saturn XVII) was published on Halloween #OTD in 1980, by the Voyager Imaging Science Team. The moon orbits just outside the F Ring of the planet.
American test pilot and astronaut Michael Collins (1930–2021) was born #OTD. In 1966, Collins was the pilot of the Gemini X mission and in 1969, the pilot of the Apollo 11 Command Module.
October 31, 2025 at 10:11 PM
American test pilot and astronaut Michael Collins (1930–2021) was born #OTD. In 1966, Collins was the pilot of the Gemini X mission and in 1969, the pilot of the Apollo 11 Command Module.
#OTD in 1920, the asteroid and centaur 944 Hidalgo was discovered by German astronomer Walter Baade at Bergedorf Observatory. It was the first known Jupiter crossing asteroid, having an orbit that takes it from near the inner edge of the main asteroid belt, to as far out as to the orbit of Saturn.
October 31, 2025 at 9:39 PM
#OTD in 1920, the asteroid and centaur 944 Hidalgo was discovered by German astronomer Walter Baade at Bergedorf Observatory. It was the first known Jupiter crossing asteroid, having an orbit that takes it from near the inner edge of the main asteroid belt, to as far out as to the orbit of Saturn.
Venera 13, the first of a pair of identical spacecraft consisting of a flyby bus and an attached descent craft, was launched from Baikonur #OTD in 1981. On March 1, 1982, its lander took the first color pictures transmitted from Venus and directly sampled and analyzed the nearby soil.
October 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Venera 13, the first of a pair of identical spacecraft consisting of a flyby bus and an attached descent craft, was launched from Baikonur #OTD in 1981. On March 1, 1982, its lander took the first color pictures transmitted from Venus and directly sampled and analyzed the nearby soil.
#OTD in 1991 Galileo spacecraft flew by the asteroid 951 Gaspra. It was the first ever asteroid encounter by a spacecraft. The closest approach was 1601 km. In all, 57 images of Gaspra were taken by Galileo's SSI camera, covering about 80% of the asteroid.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
October 29, 2025 at 8:22 PM
#OTD in 1991 Galileo spacecraft flew by the asteroid 951 Gaspra. It was the first ever asteroid encounter by a spacecraft. The closest approach was 1601 km. In all, 57 images of Gaspra were taken by Galileo's SSI camera, covering about 80% of the asteroid.
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
beyondearthsky.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...