Astronomy and Space Exploration
- August 7 - The United States launches Explorer 6 from the Atlantic Missile Range in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- September 15 - Russian probe Luna 3 sends back first photos of the far side of Earth's Moon.
- September 19 - Giuseppe Cocconi and Philip Morrison establish the scientific rationale for SETI with the publishing of their seminal paper "Searching for Interstellar Communications" in Nature.
- November 24 - Yardymli meteorite makes a landfall in Azerbaijan.
- December 4 - Little Joe 2, a mission in the Mercury program, carries Sam the monkey into space.
- Coma Berenicids discovered.
Read more about this topic: 1959 In Science
Famous quotes containing the words space and/or exploration:
“The flattering, if arbitrary, label, First Lady of the Theatre, takes its toll. The demands are great, not only in energy but eventually in dramatic focus. It is difficult, if not impossible, for a star to occupy an inch of space without bursting seams, cramping everyone else’s style and unbalancing a play. No matter how self-effacing a famous player may be, he makes an entrance as a casual neighbor and the audience interest shifts to the house next door.”
—Helen Hayes (1900–1993)
“For women who do not love us, as for the “disappeared”, knowing that we no longer have any hope does not prevent us form continuing to wait. We live on our guard, on watch; women whose son has gone asea on a dangerous exploration imagine at any minute, although it has long been certain that he has perished, that he will enter, miraculously saved, and healthy.”
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922)