Today in the History of Astronomy | Page 5 of 30 | Astronomy.com

A black-and-white photograph shows a person in a gleaming, metallic space suit and helmet standing inside a large, circular opening of a technical structure. The individual stands centrally, holding a small rectangular case in one hand and a hose in the other, positioned on a metal grate floor. The scene is brightly lit with sharp contrast, highlighting the reflective surfaces of the suit against a complex background of machinery, frames, and deep shadows.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 18, 1915: The birth of John Glenn

Two people are shaking hands through a circular hatch that connects two dark, enclosed spaces. The person on the right wears a tan jacket, while the other is partially visible inside the opening. The scene features high contrast, with deep shadows surrounding the brightly lit hands and faces.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 17, 1975: The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project link-up

A vintage, monochromatic photograph shows a grainy, dark grey surface with a single, small white star shining brightly in the exact center of the frame. The star emits a subtle, four-pointed cross of light against the textured, speckled background. The outer edges of the image are framed by uneven, darker tattered borders that appear worn and decayed.

Today in the History of Astronomy

July 16, 1850: Bond and Whipple photograph Vega

A color photograph shows a woman with short grey hair and glasses speaking from behind a long white desk, positioned in the center of the frame. She wears a blue blazer over a light-colored collared shirt, with an identification badge pinned to her lapel, and stands before a small desk microphone and a nameplate reading "J. BELL BURNELL." The setting is brightly lit, featured against a background panel with a textured, mottled blue and grey stone pattern.

Today in the History of Astronomy

July 15, 1943: Birth of Jocelyn Bell Burnell

A large spacecraft covered in crumpled gold foil occupies most of the frame against a solid black background. A large, prominent white dish antenna with gold supports is angled upward on the top of the vehicle, while a dark, cylindrical instrument structure extends outward from its upper right side. The scene is brightly lit from the upper left, creating a strong contrast between the gleaming gold surfaces, the bright white dish, and the dark void.

Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 14, 2015: New Horizon arrives at Pluto

Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. poses for a photograph beside the American flag on the Moon. The footprints of the astronauts are visible in the soil of the Moon. Neil A. Armstrong took this picture with a 70mm Hasselblad lunar surface camera. Credit: NASA.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 13, 1969: Luna 15 launches

A color photograph shows a complex, metallic spacecraft structure positioned in the center of the frame against a solid black background. The vehicle features a tall central column topped with a small dish antenna, large flat blue solar panels extending out like wings to the sides, and four large white spherical tanks clustered at its base. The lighting is direct and bright, creating high contrast between the shiny metallic surfaces, the white spheres, and the surrounding dark void.

Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 12, 1988: Phobos 2 launches

Today in the History of Astronomy

July 11, 1801: Jean-Louis Pons finds his first comet

A black-and-white studio portrait shows a man with dark, neatly parted hair and a thick mustache looking directly forward. He is dressed in a dark, textured jacket with a high white collar visible at his neck. The lighting is soft and even across his face, set against a plain, light grey background.

Today in the History of Astronomy

July 10, 1856: The birth of Nicola Tesla

A digital illustration shows a large, tan- and cream-banded planet on the left and a dark spacecraft with a prominent white dish antenna positioned to its right. Long, thin booms and antennas extend from the spacecraft, crossing in front of the planet and out toward the sides of the frame where several small, textured moons are scattered. The entire scene is set against a dark background dense with countless tiny, faint stars.

Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 9, 1979: Voyager 2’s Jupiter visit

A color image shows a large sphere with orange, brown, and cream-colored horizontal bands positioned in the upper portion of the frame against a solid black background. A small, distinct black circle sits on the upper left side of the banded sphere's surface. Extending downward from beneath the planet toward the bottom right is a long, diagonal trail of small, glowing white fragments that look like a broken line of light.

Today in the History of Astronomy

July 8, 1992: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks up

A color rendering shows a six-wheeled, metallic robotic rover with flat solar panels extended like wings, driving off a grey landing platform. The rover sits in the center of the frame on an expansive, rocky orange-brown desert landscape beneath a pale, hazy pinkish-grey sky. A tall, vertical camera mast stands prominently near the front of the vehicle, and the scene is brightly and evenly lit with clear contrast.

Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 7, 2003: Opportunity launches