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first soft landing on a comet (November 2014) Notes: (a) Due to a non-spherical, irregular shape, a comet's x, y, and z axes instead of an (average) diameter are often used to describe its dimensions. (b) Closest approach given in multiples of the comet's (average mean) radius · List ordered in ascending order by a comet's first visit.
1959 – Luna 3 sends the first images of another celestial body, the Moon, from space, including its unseen far side. [179] 1962 – Mariner 2 Venus flyby performs the first closeup observations of another planet. [180] 1964 – Mariner 4 spacecraft provides the first detailed images of the surface of Mars. [181]
The timeline of discovery of Solar System planets and their natural satellites charts the progress of the discovery of new bodies over history. Each object is listed in chronological order of its discovery (multiple dates occur when the moments of imaging, observation, and publication differ), identified through its various designations (including temporary and permanent schemes), and the ...
The first flyby of a comet occurred in 1985, when the International Cometary Explorer (ICE) passed by the comet Giacobini–Zinner, [67] whereas the first flybys of asteroids were conducted by the Galileo space probe, which imaged both 951 Gaspra (in 1991) and 243 Ida (in 1993) on its way to Jupiter.
Periodic comets usually have elongated elliptical orbits, and usually return to the vicinity of the Sun after a number of decades. The official names of non-periodic comets begin with a "C"; the names of periodic comets begin with "P" or a number followed by "P". Comets that have been lost or disappeared have names with a "D". Comets whose ...
Vostok 1 – First crewed Earth orbiter Mariner 2 – First successful Venus flyby Mariner 4 – First successful Mars flyby Luna 9 – First successful lunar lander Zond 5 – First lunar flyby and return to Earth, first terrestrials to circle the Moon Apollo 8 – First crewed lunar orbiter Apollo 11 – First crewed lunar landing
There are 293 confirmed moons in our cosmic neighborhood. By studying these worlds, astronomers hope to learn about ancient asteroid collisions, space volcanoes, and the origins of life itself.
This is a list of periodic comets that were numbered by the Minor Planet Center after having been observed on at least two occasions. Their orbital periods vary from 3.2 to 366 years. As of October 2023 [update] there are 471 numbered comets (1P–471P). [ 1 ]