Astronomy and Space Exploration
- January 26 - Ranger 3 is launched to study the Moon. The space probe later misses the Moon by 22,000 miles.
- February 4–5 - During a new moon and total solar eclipse, an extremely rare grand conjunction of the classical planets occurs, including all five of the naked-eye planets plus the Sun and Moon, all within 16° of each another on the ecliptic.
- February 19 - Penumbral lunar eclipse
- February 20 - Mercury program: While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn orbits the Earth three times in 4 hours, 55 minutes, becoming the first American to do so.
- April 26 - The Ranger 4 spacecraft crashes into the Moon.
- May 24 - Mercury program: Scott Carpenter becomes the second American to orbit the Earth aboard Aurora 7.
- July 17 - Penumbral lunar eclipse
- July 11 – First live transatlantic television broadcast from the United States to Britain, via AT&T's Telstar satellite (launched the previous day) and Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station.
- July 22 - Mariner program: The Mariner 1 spacecraft flies erratically several minutes after launch and has to be destroyed.
- July 31 - Annular solar eclipse
- August 15 - Penumbral lunar eclipse
Read more about this topic: 1962 In Science
Famous quotes containing the words astronomy, space and/or exploration:
“It is noticed, that the consideration of the great periods and spaces of astronomy induces a dignity of mind, and an indifference to death.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“This moment exhibits infinite space, but there is a space also wherein all moments are infinitely exhibited, and the everlasting duration of infinite space is another region and room of joys.”
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“I call her old. She has one family
Whose claim is good to being settled here
Before the era of colonization,
And before that of exploration even.
John Smith remarked them as he coasted by....”
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