Osun Defender History Corner: December 21 In Focus
Today, on the history corner, we take a trip in the realm of flashback and recall some events that marked this day.
December 21, 1620
The Mayflower Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in present-day Massachusetts.
December 21, 1846
The discovery of Neptune by German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle was officially announced.
December 21, 1872
Challenger expedition led by Captain George Nares was the first to circumnavigate the Antarctic continent.
December 21, 1898
Pierre and Marie Curie discovered radium, leading to groundbreaking developments in the field of radioactivity.
December 21, 1913
The first crossword puzzle was published in the New York World newspaper.
December 21, 1937
Disney’s animated film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles.
December 21, 1968
Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the Moon, was launched from Kennedy Space Center.
December 21, 1970
The first successful landing on Venus was achieved by the Soviet spacecraft Venera 7.
December 21, 1988
A bomb exploded on board Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people.
December 21, 1991
Eleven of the former Soviet republics declared the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
December 21, 2004
The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) discovered its 1,000th comet, solidifying its role in solar research.
December 21, 2012
The predicted end of the world based on interpretations of the Mayan calendar did not occur.
December 21, 2015
NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft made its closest approach to Pluto, providing unprecedented images and data about the dwarf planet.
December 21, 2018
The United States officially established the Space Force as a new branch of the military.
Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on December 21. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
