12 February in history.

2001

Landing on an asteroid. NASA's NEAR Shoemaker probe, built only to orbit the asteroid Eros, gently touched down on it instead. It was the first spacecraft ever to land on an asteroid.

Wikipedia: NEAR Shoemaker

Photo: NASA/JPL/JHUAPL (color version published at Planetary Society) / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 12 February

1. 

   1855

   A college for farmers

   Michigan founded the first agricultural college in the United States. It grew into Michigan State University.

   Wikipedia: Michigan State University

   Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

2. 

   1909

   The NAACP is founded

   Black and white Americans came together to found the NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, to campaign for equal rights.

   Wikipedia: NAACP

   Photo: James E. Purdy / Adam Cuerden / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

3. 

   1924

   Rhapsody in Blue is heard for the first time

   George Gershwin played the piano in the first performance of his piece mixing jazz and classical music, at Aeolian Hall in New York.

   Wikipedia: Rhapsody in BlueWikipedia: George Gershwin

   Photo: Carl Van Vechten / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

4. 

   1947

   Dior's "New Look"

   Designer Christian Dior showed his first collection in Paris, with full skirts and narrow waists. The look helped bring Paris back to the centre of fashion.

   Wikipedia: Christian Dior

   Photo: Paris-Match, editeur / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

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