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Dutch eyeglass maker Hans Lippershey invents the refracting telescope. The invention spreads rapidly across Europe, as scientists make their own instruments. Their discoveries begin a revolution in astronomy.
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Galileo is the first person to observe Saturns rings through a telescope.
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As the power and the quality of the telescopes increase, Christiaan Huygens studies Saturn and discovers its largest satellite, Titan. He also explains Saturn's appearance, suggesting the planet is surrounded by a thin ring.
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Russians launch first artificail satellite, Spuntik 1
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The chimpanzee Ham is launched in Mercury rocket
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NASA's Marina 2 scans the surface of Venus
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A fire on the launch pad of Apollo 1 kills three US atronauts
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US astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to walk on the moon
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The space shuttle Challernger explodes on launch killing 7 crew
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Twin mars Exploration Rover missions Spirit and opportunity land on mars
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International Astronomical Union (IAU) adopted a new definition of planet. A new distinct class of objects called dwarf planets was also decided. Pluto was redefined as a dwarf planet along with Ceres and Eris, formerly known as (2003) UB313. Eris was named after the IAU General Assembly in 2006.
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In October 2013, the first extrasolar asteroid is detected around white dwarf star GD 61. It is also the first detected extrasolar body which contains water in liquid or solid form.
