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)
“Art and power will go on as they have done,—will make day out of night, time out of space, and space out of time.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“The future author is one who discovers that language, the exploration and manipulation of the resources of language, will serve him in winning through to his way.”
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975)