Monday, November 3, 2025
On this date in 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 with the first live animal sent into space – a Siberian husky dog, Laika. Biological data, the first data of its kind, was transmitted back to Earth and showed scientists how Laika was adapting to space. The craft was not planned for recovery, and Laika died in orbit.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
On this date in 1869, the first issue of the science journal Nature was published. Today, the journal remains popular and features articles on a variety of science topics, including astronomy.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
On this date in 1906, Marie Curie gave her inaugural lecture as the first woman lecturer at the Sorbonne. She explained the theory of ions in gases and her treatise on radioactivity. Madame Curie would become a Nobel prize winner and authority on radioactivity.
Thursday, November 6, 2025
On this date in 1572, a supernova was observed by many worldwide in the constellation of Cassiopeia. The supernova peaked in brightness even becoming visible during the daytime. It remained visible to the unaided eye at night for approximately 16 months. Astronomer Tycho Brahe made meticulous records of the event and published his findings in Stella Nova.
Friday, November 7, 2025
On this date in 1631, Pierre Gassendi made the first observation of Mercury transiting the Sun. He observed the transit by projecting the Sun’s image on a screen of paper. He recorded this in Mercurius in sole visus (1632; Mercury in the Face of the Sun) as support for the new astronomy of Johannes Kepler.
Saturday, November 8, 2025
On this date in 1656, English astronomer Edmond Halley was born. Halley is most well known for calculating the orbit of the object that would become known as “Halley’s Comet.” Halley’s Comet last had a close approach of Earth in 1986 and is expected to return in 2061.
Sunday, November 9, 2025
On this date in 1934, Carl Sagan was born. Sagan was an American astronomy and science communicator who helped to popularize space science through the 13-part television series “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.”
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