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240BC: What would later become known as Halley's comet is observed by the Chinese again
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270BC: Aristarchus says that the Sun is at the center of the Solar System; this is generally dismissed
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1514: Astronomer Nicolas Copernicus suggests that the earth moves around the sun.
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1543: Copernicus publishes De Revolutionibus Orbium Caoelestium (The Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres), the theory that earth revolves around the sun, while on his deathbed.
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1604: first supernova is seen
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1608: Hans Lippershey invents the telescope
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1682: Edmond Halley discovers Halley's comet. Then in 1705: Edmund Halley predicts that the comet spotted in 1682 will return in 1758. 1758: As predicted by Edmund Halley, the 1682 comet returns, and is thereafter named Halley's Comet.
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1688: Isaac Newton constructs the first reflecting telescope.
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1754: The heliometer, a device designed to measure the diameter of the sun, is invented by John Dollond. It is also used to measure distances between stars.
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1758: Edmund Halleys prediction about the coming of Halleys comet was confirmed and then named after him
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1798: Laplace predicts the existence of black holes.
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1801: The first asteroid is discovered when Giuseppe Piazzi identifies Ceres.
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1846: The 8th planet, Neptune, is discovered by Johann Galle.
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1930:Clyde Tombaugh discovers the 9th planet, Pluto.
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1930:Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto.
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1958 NASA founded.
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1977:Rings around Uranus discovered. The Voyager deep space probes are launched.
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1978:Pioneer 1 and 2 reach Venus 1978 James Christy discovers Charon, a moon of Pluto.
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1979-1981:The Voyager spacecraft pass Jupiter and Saturn, relaying an enormous amount of information back.
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1982: Rings around Neptune discovered.
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1986:Soviet Union launches Mir space station. Space Shuttle Challenger explodes, killing all aboard. Voyager 2 reaches Uranus, finding 6 new moons.
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1987:Supernova SN1987A flares up, becoming the first supernova visible to the naked eye since 1604.
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1989:Voyager 2 reaches Neptune, discovering a ring system and 8 moons.
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1990:Hubble space telescope launched.
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1992: NASA launches the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) program.
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1996:NASA scientist announce the discovery of proof of living organisms on a Mars meteorite in Antarctica.
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1998:Construction started on the International Space Station. Supernova observations suggest that the universe is expanding at an increased rate.
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2001: Evidence for a black hole at the center of our galaxy is found. Spacecraft NEAR Shoemaker safely lands on the asteroid 433 Eros, February 15. United States launched the Genesis mission to study solar wind particles.
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2010: ISS finished
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2296BC: A comet is observed for the first time by the Chinese
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2300BC: Chinese astronomers start to observe the sky
