24 December in history.

1968

Apollo 8 orbits the Moon and sees Earthrise. Apollo 8 became the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon. The crew took Earthrise, a famous photo of Earth rising over the lunar horizon.

Wikipedia: Apollo 8

Photo: NASA/Bill Anders / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 24 December

1. 

   1818

   Silent Night is sung for the first time

   The carol "Silent Night", by Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber, was first performed in a church in Oberndorf, Austria.

   Wikipedia: Silent Night

   Photo: Franz Xaver Gruber (1787–1863) / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

2. 

   1871

   Verdi's Aida premieres

   Giuseppe Verdi's opera Aida, one of his most popular, was first performed, in Cairo, Egypt.

   Wikipedia: AidaWikipedia: Giuseppe Verdi

   Photo: Ferdinand Mulnier / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

3. 

   1906

   The first radio broadcast

   Reginald Fessenden made the first radio broadcast: a poetry reading, a violin solo and a speech.

   Wikipedia: Reginald Fessenden

   Photo: None listed / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

4. 

   1925

   Winnie-the-Pooh appears by name

   Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared by name, in a children's story printed in the London Evening News.

   Wikipedia: Winnie-the-Pooh

   Photo: E. H. Shepard / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.