On this day

17 November in history.

5 moments from 1858 to 1989: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Map of the Moon marking where missions have landed.

1970

The first robot rover drives on the Moon. Lunokhod 1 rolled onto the Moon's Sea of Rains. Steered from Earth, it was the first robot rover ever to land on another world.

Wikipedia: Luna programme

Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 17 November

  1. The Denver skyline in Colorado.

    1858

    Denver is founded

    The city we now know as Denver, Colorado, got its start on this day.

    Wikipedia: DenverWikipedia: Colorado

    Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

  2. 1869

    The Suez Canal opens

    Egypt celebrated the opening of the Suez Canal, a waterway joining the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

    Wikipedia: EgyptWikipedia: Suez CanalWikipedia: Mediterranean Sea

  3. Physicist John Bardeen.

    1947

    Scientists see how a transistor could work

    John Bardeen and Walter Houser Brattain spotted the basic principles behind the transistor, the tiny part that went on to power the electronics revolution.

    Wikipedia: John BardeenWikipedia: Walter BrattainWikipedia: Transistor

    Photo: Nobel foundation / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  4. 1989

    The Little Mermaid swims into cinemas

    Disney's The Little Mermaid opened in theatres, kicking off the period of hit films known as the Disney Renaissance.

    Wikipedia: Walt Disney PicturesWikipedia: The Little Mermaid (1989 film)Wikipedia: Disney Renaissance

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