Today in the History of Astronomy | Astronomy.com

A magazine cover features an illustration of a long, dark-winged rocket ascending into space, leaving a bright trail of exhaust from its glowing orange, honeycombed tail engine. In the background, the curved edge of the Earth glows with a reddish atmosphere beneath a dark sky filled with stars and light clouds. Large text boxes at the top display the magazine title "Collier's" and bold headlines about space exploration.

Human Spaceflight, Space Exploration, Today in the History of Astronomy

June 11, 1986: Chesley Bonestell dies

A group of people wearing white protective laboratory suits and hairnets stand in a brightly lit, high-ceilinged room. A woman in the center of the group points toward a large, complex piece of industrial machinery wrapped in shiny silver, gold, and red paneling. The spacious background features white walls, a large blue letter "E," and various ladders and equipment scattered across the gray floor.

Solar System, Today in the History of Astronomy

June 10, 1927: The birth of Eugene Parker

A grid of eight distinct square panels are arranged in two rows of four against a black background. Each panel shows a bright, yellowish-orange core surrounded by thin, glowing blue rings or partial arcs that encircle the central light. Text labels containing long strings of numbers appear at the bottom of each square panel, with a larger informational title section situated underneath the entire grid.

Cosmology, Today in the History of Astronomy

June 9, 1988: First image of an Einstein ring

A man with long, curly dark hair is depicted from the waist up, facing left. He rests one hand on a large celestial globe while gesturing with his other hand toward an outdoor scene visible through a window behind him. The background shows a large stone building and several figures operating long telescopes on a grassy field, all rendered in detailed monochrome linework.

Today in the History of Astronomy

June 8, 1625: The birth of Giovanni Cassini

A large, complex satellite stands vertically inside a dimly lit industrial facility, mounted atop a white, cone-shaped rocket component. The upper sections of the satellite are wrapped in crinkled gold and silver metallic foil, accented by flat, dark paneling along one side. In the foreground, a person wearing a white protective suit and mask stands on the right, providing a sense of scale to the brightly illuminated machinery.

Space Exploration, Today in the History of Astronomy

June 7, 1992: The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer launches

A color photograph shows two men wearing glasses standing outdoors in front of a steeply tilted, layered rock formation. The older man on the left wears a white, short-sleeved button-down shirt and dark pants, while the younger man on the right wears a blue short-sleeved shirt, dark pants, and holds a small hammer. Both men are smiling at the camera and touching the rocky, tan and grayish-brown cliff face behind them under bright daylight.

Today in the History of Astronomy

June 6, 1980: The asteroid impact theory

A black-and-white engraved portrait shows a balding man with a full, bushy beard and mustache, turned slightly to the right. He wears a dark suit jacket and vest over a white collared shirt and a dark bowtie. The detailed sketching sits against a stark white background that fades out softly at the bottom edge of the frame.

Today in the History of Astronomy

June 5, 1819: The birth of John C. Adams

A stark, high-contrast photograph captures a solid black circle perfectly centered against a jet-black background. A bright, glowing ring of white light radiates outward from behind the dark circle, creating a soft, hazy halo with faint streaks extending into the surrounding darkness.

Today in the History of Astronomy

June 4, 781 B.C.E: A great eclipse in China

A black-and-white photograph shows a massive, circular disk with a honeycombed geometric pattern on its reflective surface, tilted slightly toward the viewer on a heavy metal support structure. Several people in light-colored clothing stand on platforms and ladders around the giant disk, highlighting its immense scale. The industrial workshop setting features scaffolding, walkways, and mechanical equipment under bright, overhead lighting.

Today in the History of Astronomy

June 3, 1948: Hale Telescope dedicated

A high-contrast, black-and-white image shows the dark, sharp shadow of a mechanical structure cast against a pale, textured ground surface. The shadow features a prominent, angled central mast topped with a flat, rectangular shape resembling a small awning or panel. The background is a stark, light gray expanse marked with a grid pattern of small, faint dark dots.

Space Exploration, Today in the History of Astronomy

June 2, 1966: Surveyor 1 lands on the Moon

Today in the History of Astronomy

June 1, 1888: Lick Observatory changes hands

Today in the History of Astronomy

May 31, 1975: ESA begins operations