Voyager 2 Sailed past Uranus in 1986

 Events
Jan 242024
 
Uranus from Voyager 2

Uranus from Voyager 2

Voyager 2 sailed past Uranus in 1986. It discovered eleven new moons and two new rings. Voyager 2 collected data on one of the moons, Miranda. Miranda, named after a character in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, is gouged by deep craters and sharp cliffs. Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977, and it still sends back data about deep space! Idea: Children could find out how newly discovered objects in space are named. Children can learn more, including a great mission time elapsed clock, at: Voyager 2.

Hungary Celebrates Saint Stephen’s Day

 Events
Aug 202024
 
Hunagry Flag

Flag of Hungary

Hungary celebrates Saint Stephen’s Day, a national holiday that marks the day when his remains were taken to Buda, now called Budapest. A landlocked country in eastern Europe, Hungary is about the size of the state of Indiana. Its flat plains experience a temperate climate. Almost ten million people live in Hungary, and Budapest is the capital. Children can learn more at: Hungary.

Voyager 2 Was Launched in 1977

 Events
Aug 202024
 
Voyager 2

Voyager 2

Voyager 2 was launched in 1977. It traveled near Jupiter in 1979, Saturn in 1981, Uranus in 1986, and Neptune in 1989. It transmitted photographs and data back to earth. It continues in its space travels, sending back weak radio signals. Children can visit an INTERESTING website, including data on the spacecraft’s distance from earth, at: Voyager 2.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Began in 1858

 Events
Aug 212024
 

Lincoln-Douglas debates began in 1858. The seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas provided the voters of Illinois a chance to evaluate the candidates for a senate seat. The last debate was held in Alton, Illinois, on October 15, 1858. Although Lincoln lost the election, he became more known nationally. Older children can read transcripts of the speeches at: Lincoln-Douglas Debates.

Voyager 2 – 1981 and 1989

 Events
Aug 252024
 
Voyager 2

Voyager 2

Voyager 2 made its closest approach to Saturn in 1981 and to Neptune in 1989. Launched August 20, 1977, Voyager 2 investigated Saturn’s atmosphere. It also researched Neptune’s atmosphere and checked out one of Neptune’s moons, Triton. The spacecraft continues to travel and send back data. Children can keep up to date with that data at: http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/