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nOn this date in 1972, the U.S. launched Landsat, the first Earth-resources satellite. It was designed to get information that could be used in agriculture, forestry, geology and mineral resources, geography and map-making, hydrology and water resources, environment and pollution, oceanography and sea resources, and weather. After years of operation, the satellite had beamed back hundreds of thousands of images, but one of the systems eventually failed and the satellite was decommissioned.
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A volcano erupting in Japan |
nThere is an island called Landsat Island that was discovered by this satellite.
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The two tails of a comet: n nThe bright tail is made of dust reflecting nsunlight… nThe fainter, bluer tail is made of nglowing electrically-charged ions… |
nOn this date in 1995, the Comet Hale-Bopp was discovered. Two different astronomers discovered it on the same night – and you may have guessed that one was named Hale and the other Bopp. It’s interesting to note that, although Alan Hale was a professional astronomer, Thomas Bopp was just an amateur! It’s so cool when amateurs can make discoveries – especially when their name gets plunked onto their discovery!
Hale-Bopp became visible to the naked eye in May 1996, and it was bright enough by January of 1997 to provoke a lot of curiosity. At that time, the internet was becoming the internet – and websites tracking the comet sprang up and helped people get more excited about the comet.
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Hale-Bopp taking advantage of all the usual photo ops. nAbove, Joshua Tree National Park in California. n nBelow, one of the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge. |
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nRevolution Day in Egypt
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nAnniversary of the signing of a boundary treaty
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nJuly holidays
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nJuly birthdays
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nHistorical anniversaries in July
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nAugust holidays
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nAugust birthdays
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nHistorical anniversaries in August
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